BIO-AGRICULTURAL  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
RIVERSIDE,  CALIFORNIA  92502 


RESEARCHES 


NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID/E 


ALBERT  PITTS  MORSE 

Research  Assistant,  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington 


PUBLISHED   BY   THE 

CARNEGIE   INSTITUTION   OF   WASHINGTON 
1904 


FIG.  i — Eupatorium  thicket  amid  scattered  deciduous  trees  on  a  ridge  "  bald  "  traversed 
by  a  cattle-path,  at  east  end  of  Roan  Mountain,  North  Carolina. 


FIG.  2 — "Laurel  bald"  on  the  slope  of  Grandfather  Mountain,  North  Carolina,  forming  the 

thicket  habitat  of  Podisma  glacialis  variegata  and  Melanoplus  sylvestris. 

Berry-pickers  camped  beside  the  Yonahlossee  road. 


RESEARCHES 


NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID/E 


ALBERT  PITTS  MORSE 

Research  Assistant,  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington 


Library 


PUBLISHED   BY   THE 

CARNEGIE  INSTITUTION  OF  WASHINGTON 
1904 


CARNEGIE  INSTITUTION  OF  WASHINGTON 
PUBLICATION  No.  18 


PRESS  OF  W.    F.   ROBERTS  COMPANY 
WASHINGTON 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

Introduction 7 

Biological  importance  of  the  Southeastern  United  States 8 

Localities  at  which  collecting  was  done,  with  dates  of  visit 9 

Field  work 10 

Climatal  conditions  affecting  results n 

Life  zones  of  region  visited n 

Number  of  broods  of  Acridiidae 12 

Life  histories  with  reference  to  season 12 

Zonal  distribution  of  genera  of  Acridiidse  of  eastern  North    America...  12 

Locust  societies  and  habitats 14 

Comparison  of  campestral  and  sylvan  locusts 19 

Macropterous  and  brachypterous  locusts 20 

Brachypterism  in  other  Orthoptera 21 

"Burning-over"  as  a  factor  in  distribution 22 

Hybrids,  varieties,  and  other  topics 22 

Species  of  economic  importance. 23 

List  of  species  and  localities  from  which  collected 24-55 

3 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PLATES. 

Facing 

Plate  i. 

Fig.  I.  Ridge  "bald"  at  east  end  of  Roan  Mountain I 

Fig.  2.  "I/aurel  bald"  on  slope  of  Grandfather  Mountain,  habitat  of 

Podisma  glacialis  variegata  and  Melanoplus  sylvestris          i 

Plate  2. 

Fig.  i.  Habitat  of  Trimerotropis  saxatilis,  Stone  Mountain,  Ga 56 

Fig.  2.  Habitat  of  Trimerotropis  saxatilis,  Sand  Mountain  Plateau, 

near  Trenton,  Ga 56 

Plate  3. 

Fig.  i.  Habitat  of  Trimerotropis  dtrina  and  T.  maritima,  on  sea- 
beach  at  Cape  Henry,  Va 56 

Fig.  2.  Habitat  of  Trimerotropis  citrina,  on  sandy  river-wash  in 

Piedmont  region,  Morganton,  N.  C 56 

Plate  4. 

Fig.  i.  The  Florida  strand,  habitat  of  Scirtetica  picta,  etc 56 

Fig.  2.  The  Florida  strand,  habitat  of  Orphulella  olivacea,  etc 56 

Plate  5. 

Fig.  i.  The  Florida  strand,  habitat  of  Hesperotettix  pratensis 56 

Fig.  2.  Pine  barrens,  habitat  of  Gymnoscirtetes  pusillus,  etc 56 

Plate  6. 

Fig.  i.  Type  locality  of  Melanoplus  strumosus 56 

Fig.  2.  Type  locality  of  Melanoplus  symmetricus 56 

Plate  7. 

Fig.  i.  Normal  sylvan  habitat  of  Melanoplus  amplectens 56 

Fig.  2.  Extended  habitat  of  Melanoplus  amplectens 56 

Plate  8. 

Fig.  i.  Summit  "balds "east  of  Roan  Mountain,  North  Carolina...        56 
Fig.  2.  Protective  coloration 56 

TEXT  FIGURES. 

Page 

Fig.  i.  Map  showing  the  route  traveled 10 

2-10.  Cerci  of  male  Melanoplus:  2,  M.  sylvestris;  3,  M.  celatus;  4,  M. 
carnegiei;  5,  M.  divergens;  6,  M,  similis;    7,  M*  tribulus; 

8,  M.  devius;  9,  M.  deceptus;  10,  M.  symmetricus 46 

11.  M.  decoratus:  Lateral  view  of  end  of  abdomen  of  male 51 

12.  M.  strumosus:  Lateral  view  of  end  of  abdomen  of  male 51 

13.  M.  strumosus:  Dorsal  view  of  end  of  abdomen  of  male 51 


RESEARCHES  ON  NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^ 


By  ALBERT  P.  MORSE, 
Research  Assistant,  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  work  on  which  report  is  here  made  was  done  under  a 
grant  from  the  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington  and  was  directed 
toward  the  acquisition  of  facts  of  faunal,  biological,  and  morpho- 
logical value  concerning  the  Acridian  fauna  of  the  southeastern 
United  States,  a  portion  of  the  country  hitherto  largely  unexplored 
with  reference  to  this  group  of  insects. 

A  study  of  the  general  topography,  based,  when  possible,  on 
the  maps  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey,  led  to  a  plan  of 
operations  in  accordance  with  variations  in  the  life  history  of  differ- 
ent species.  This  plan  involved  an  examination  of  the  different  life 
zones  of  the  region  at  as  early  and  as  late  dates  as  practicable,  in 
order  to  secure  earlier  and  later  maturing  forms,  since  it  is  impos- 
sible, with  our  present  knowledge,  to  distinguish  many  of  the 
species  with  certainty  save  in  the  adult  state. 

About  60  widely  separated  localities  were  examined  in  68  days 
during  a  trip  of  3,000  miles  through  the  region  under  inspection. 
Approximately  6,000  specimens  were  secured  in  this  time,  repre- 
senting 90  species  of  Acridiidse  (of  which  one-sixth  were  new  to 
science),  together  with  notes  of  great  biological  interest. 

Many  important  data  relating  to  the  biology  and  distribution  of 
the  group  were  secured  ;  but  in  some  cases,  owing  to  the  character  of 
the  trip — a  rapid  reconnaissance  over  a  wide  extent  of  territory  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  general  information — the  results  should  be 
regarded  as  tentative  until  further  detailed  studies  can  be  made. 

This  report  includes  a  general  account  of  the  investigation  and 
a  statement  of  the  results  secured;  the  data  on  which  the  general- 
ized statements  are  based,  in  the  form  of  an  annotated  list  of  the 
species  taken,  with  locality,  habitat,  and  date  of  capture ;  brief 
notes  on  the  geographical  and  zonal  distribution  of  the  genera  of 
North  American  Acridiidae  ;  and  contributions  to  locust  biology  in 


8  NORTH   AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E. 

the  shape  of  a  classification  of  locust  habitats  and  societies  and  an 
explanation  of  brachypterism  in  Orthoptera. 

Acknowledgments  are  due,  primarily,  to  the  Carnegie  Institu- 
tion for  the  means  wherewith  to  pursue  this  investigation  ;  secondly, 
to  Mr.  Samuel  Henshaw,  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology, 
for  the  opportunity  to  study  critically  the  Scudder  collection,  with- 
out access  to  which  certainty  of  determination  would  in  many  cases 
have  been  impossible;  and  finally,  to  numerous  fellow-scientists, 
travelers,  and  observers,  for  their  cordial  interest  and  assistance  in 
various  ways.  Among  these  I  desire  epecially  to  mention  Mr.  J.  H. 
Emerton,  of  Boston;  Messrs.  Sherman  and  Brimley  Bros.,  of  Raleigh, 
and  Boynton,  of  Biltmore,  North  Carolina,  for  information  regarding 
conditions  and  localities  ;  and  Messrs.  Fernald  and  Greenman,  of 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  for  determination  of  plant  specimens. 

BIOLOGICAL    IMPORTANCE    OF    THE    SOUTHEASTERN 
UNITED    STATES. 

The  chief  biological  importance  of  the  Southeastern  United 
States,  comprising  Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
Florida,  Alabama,  eastern  Tennessee,  and  West  Virginia,  is  con- 
nected with  two  facts  :  First,  this  region  served  during  the  Glacial 
Epoch  as  a  refuge  for  boreal  forms  of  life  which  had  been  pushed 
southward  by  the  climatal  conditions  of  the  Ice  Age,  and  at  the 
close  of  that  period  it  became  the  center  of  dispersal  whence  these 
forms  were  able  to  restock  the  opening  country  at  the  north. 
Second,  during  this  later  period  its  lowland  plains  served,  and 
probably  continue  to  serve,  as  a  highway  of  dispersal  for  austral 
forms  entering  the  country  from  the  south  and  southwest,  many 
of  which  have  penetrated  far  into  the  heavily  glaciated  region  of 
the  Northern  States. 

Notwithstanding  its  great  biological  importance,  this  region  has 
not  received  the  attention  scientifically  which  it  deserves,  save 
with  reference  to  certain  groups  and  in  certain  sections,  such,  for 
instance,  as  peninsular  Florida,  which,  owing  to  its  southern  posi- 
tion and  consequent  attractiveness,  both  biologically  and  as  a  winter 
resort,  has  received  considerable  attention  and  study.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  the  Acridian  fauna  of  no  area  in  the  United  States  of  equal 
size  and  biological  importance  was  so  little  known  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year.  For  this  reason  it  was  decided  to  spend  the  summer  in 
a  general  reconaissance  trip  through  the  region,  securing  as  many 
facts  relative  to  systematic  facies,  geographical,  zonal,  and  seasonal 
distribution,  habitats  and  environmental  conditions,  life  histories,  etc., 
as  possible. 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E. 


9 


LOCALITIES  AT  WHICH  COLLECTING  WAS  DONE. 
A  list  of  the  points  at  which  collecting  was  done,  with  their 
elevation,  if  known,  especially  in  the  mountainous  regions,  and  the 
dates  of  visit,  is  subjoined. 


Virginia  : 

Appomattox,  Appomattox  Co.,  Sept. 

6;  800  feet. 
Cape    Henry,    Princess   Anne   Co., 

July  2,  4,  Sept.  7. 
Hickory,  Norfolk  Co. ,  July  3. 
Norfolk,  Norfolk  Co.,  Sept.  8. 
Roanoke,  Roanoke  Co.,  Sept.  6;  1000 

to  1600  feet. 
Virginia  Beach,  Princess  Anne  Co., 

July  2,  4,  Sept.  7. 
Wytheville,  Wythe  Co.,  Sept.  4,  5; 

2200  to  3500  feet. 

North  Carolina: 

Asheville,   Buncombe  Co.,  July  21, 

22  ;  2000  to  3000  feet. 
Balsam,  Jackson  Co.,  July   23,   24; 

Aug.  19,  20  ;  3000  to  6200  feet. 
Blowing   Rock,  Watauga   Co.,  July 

19;  3800  feet. 
Cranberry,  Mitchell   Co.,    July   14, 

Aug.  28;  3200  feet. 
Eure,  Gates  Co.,  July  5,  6. 
Governor  Island,  Swain  Co.,  Aug.  20; 

1800  feet. 
Grandfather  Mt.,  Mitchell  and  Cald- 

well  Cos.,  Aug.  29;  4800  to  5500 

feet. 

Greensboro,  Guilford  Co.,  July  10. 
Lenoir,  Caldwell  Co.,  July  19;  about 

1500  feet. 
Linville,  Mitchell  Co.,  July  17,  18; 

Aug.  30;  3800  feet. 
Loverings,    Burke      Co.     (between 

Morganton  and  Pineola),  July 

13;  3500  feet. 
Morganton,  Burke  Co.,  July  12,  20; 

1200  feet. 
Murphy,    Cherokee    Co.,    July    25, 

Aug.  22;  1600  to  1800  feet. 
Pineola,  Mitchell  Co.,  July  13,  14, 

Aug.  28  ;  3800  feet. 
Raleigh,  Wake  Co.,  July  8,  9. 
Roan  Mt.,  Mitchell  Co.  (and  Carter 

Co. ,  Tenn.),  July  15, 16,  Aug.  31, 

Sept.  1,2;  4000  to  6300  feet. 
Roan  Valley,  Mitchell  Co.,  July  16, 

Sept.  i;  4000  feet. 
Salisbury,  Rowan  Co.,  July  u. 
Saluda,  Polk  Co.,  Aug.   17;  2200  to 

2400  feet. 

Selma,  Johnston  Co  ,  July  7. 
Tarboro,  Edgecombe  Co.,  July  6,  7. 


Topton,    Cherokee    Co.,    Aug.    21; 

2700  to  4400  feet. 
Tunis,  Hertford  Co.,  July  5. 

South  Carolina : 

Columbia,  Richland  Co.,  Aug.  16. 
Denmark,  Bamberg Co.,  Aug.  14,15. 
Spartanburg,  Spartanburg  Co.,  Aug. 
16,  17. 

Georgia  ; 
Blue   Ridge,  Fannin  Co.,  July  25; 

1700  feet. 

Bolton,  Cobb  Co.,  July  29;  800  feet. 
Jasper,    Pickens    Co.,   July   25,    26; 

1500  to  2600  feet. 
Marietta,  Cobb  Co.,  July  27;  1000  to 

1 200  feet. 
Sand    Mountain,    Dade    Co.    (near 

Trenton),  Aug.  25;  1500  feet. 
Savannah,  Chatham  Co.,  Aug.  13,  14. 
Stone  Mountain,  DeKalb  Co.,  July 

28;  1000  to  1685  feet. 
Trenton,   Dade  Co.,   Aug.    25;   500 

feet. 
Tybee  Island,  Chatham  Co.,  Aug. 

12,  13. 

Waycross,  Ware  Co.,  Aug.  n. 
West  Point,  Troup  Co. ,  July  30. 

Florida ; 

Carrabelle,  Franklin  Co.,  Aug.  9. 
De  Funiak    Springs,    Walton    Co., 

Aug.  5. 
Fort     Barrancas,     Escambia     Co., 

Aug.  3. 

Live  Oak,  Suwande  Co.,  Aug.  10. 
Marianna,  Jackson  Co. ,  Aug.  6,  7. 
Tallahassee,  Leon  Co.,  Aug.  8. 
Warrington,  Escambia  Co.,  Aug.  4. 

Alabama  : 

Flomaton,  Escambia  Co.,  Aug.  I,  2. 
Greenville,  Butler  Co.,  July  31. 

Tennessee: 
Burbank,  Carter  Co..  July   17,  3000 

to  3300  feet. 
Chattanooga,   Hamilton   Co.,   Aug. 

24;  700  to  800  feet. 
Johnson     City,    Washington     Co., 

Aug.  27;  1700  feet. 
Lookout  Mountain,  Hamilton  Co., 

Aug.  23;  2000  feet. 
Morristown,  Hamblen  Co.,  Aug.  27; 

1400  feet. 
Roan  Mountain  Station,  Carter  Co., 

July  17,  Sept.  3;  2600  feet. 


10 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E. 


While  making  special  efforts  to  secure  Acridiidae,  the  other 
species  of  Orthoptera  coming  to  hand  were  also  taken,  broadening 
somewhat  the  scope  of  the  inquiry,  without  interfering  with  its 
main  object.  A  folding  camera  was  carried  and  numerous  photo- 
graphs were  secured  illustrative  of  habitats  and  other  features  of 
locust  biology,  some  of  which  appear  with  this  report. 


j         KENTUCKY  /  \    ; 


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•Aug.  12 


FIG.  i. — Map  showing  the  route  traveled. 

FIELD  WORK. 

Leaving  Boston  by  steamer  on  June  30,  Norfolk,  Va.,  was 
reached  and  collecting  begun  in  its  vicinity  on  July  2  ;  thence 
southwest  to  Tarboro  and  Selma,  N.  C.,  and  westward  through 
North  Carolina,  stopping  at  frequent  intervals,  to  Morganton,  from 
which  point  a  detour  was  made  by  team  and  rail  to  Pineola  and 
Roan  Mountain,  returning  via  Linville  and  Blowing  Rock  ;  west- 
ward again  to  Asheville,  the  Balsam  Mountains,  and  Murphy ; 
southward  to  Atlanta ;  southwest  to  the  Gulf  coast  at  Pensacola  ; 
east  through  northern  Florida  to  Tallahassee,  whence  the  Gulf 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIIDjE.  11 

coast  was  reached  a  second  time  at  Carrabelle  ;  eastward  to  Live 
Oak;  northeast  via  Waycross  to  Savannah  and  the  Atlantic  coast 
at  Tybee  Island;  north  and  west  through  South  Carolina  to  Ashe- 
ville;  a  second  trip  through  the  valley,  including  stops  at  the  Balsam 
and  Valley  mountains,  and  on  to  Chattanooga;  northeast  to  Johnson 
City,  from  which  point  Roan  Mountain  was  visited  a  second  time, 
and  also  Linville  and  Grandfather  Mountain;  northeast  and  east 
through  Virginia  to  Roanoke  and  Norfolk,  returning  to  Boston  by 
steamer  on  September  10,  after  ten  weeks  in  the  field.  The  entire 
distance  traveled  was  about  4,000  miles,  of  which  3,000  was  through 
the  territory  under  observation.  The  map  on  page  10  will  render 
the  route  clear  at  a  glance. 


CLIMATAL  CONDITIONS  AFFECTING  RESULTS. 

The  weather,  on  which  so  much  depends,  was  as  favorable  as 
could  be  expected,  though  in  parts  of  the  trip  collecting  was  much 
interfered  with  at  times  by  showers,  several  being  not  unusual  in 
one  day.  The  heat  of  the  southern  summer  is  also  a  factor  to  be 
reckoned  with. 

The  writer  was  informed  at  nearly  every  locality  during  the  first 
half  of  the  trip,  that  the  season  was  two  to  three  weeks  late.  This 
should  be  taken  into  consideration  when  calculating  the  time  of 
appearance  of  species,  and  attention  is  called  to  it  in  the  proper 
place. 

LIFE  ZONES  OF  THE  REGION  VISITED. 

In  the  region  examined  four  life  zones  are  represented:  The 
Ivower  Austral,  including  the  major  part  of  the  Gulf  strip  of  the 
Austro-riparian  division  ;  the  Upper  Austral,  the  Transition,  and 
the  Canadian.  The  Austral  zones  cover  all  of  the  country  except 
the  higher  mountains;  the  Transition  and  Canadian  cover  the 
mountains  and  valleys  above  an  altitude  of  about  2,500  feet.  No 
attempt  was  made  at  an  accurate  delimitation  of  these  zones, 
owing  to  the  rapid  character  of  the  trip,  but  many  notes  on  the  zonal 
distribution  of  the  various  species  will  be  found  in  the  accompany- 
ing list  (p.  24).  Representative  species  of  each  zone  occur,  but  some 
boreal  species  which  it  was  hoped  to  find  were  not  observed.  The 
Canadian  zone  is  restricted  to  limited  areas  on  the  higher  summits, 
but  austral  species,  owing  to  proximity  of  the  Austral  zone,  are 
often  found  within  its  borders.  Its  characteristic  fauna,  while 
numerically  insignificant,  is  of  extreme  interest,  being  represented 


12  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^J. 

by  a  wingless  species,  Podisma  gladalis  variegata,  whose  presence 
is  believed  to  indicate  the  southward  extent  of  continuous  sub- 
alpine  conditions  in  the  Glacial  Epoch. 

NUMBER  OF  BROODS. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  length  of  the  season  of  active  life  in 
the  I^ower  Austral  zone,  there  is,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn, 
but  one  brood  per  annum  of  any  species  of  locust  inhabiting  the 
Eastern  States ;  at  least,  I  have  failed  to  secure  definite  proof  of 
the  occurrence  of  two  broods  in  any  case,  though  it  seems  not  im- 
probable that  Chortophaga  viridifasciata  and  possibly  other  species 
may  have  two  broods  in  the  extreme  south.  This  is  a  point  which 
might  readily  be  determined  by  resident  observers  in  Florida  or 
along  the  Gulf  coast. 

Contrary  to  the  opinion  sometimes  expressed,  the  presence  of 
very  young  or  of  adult  insects  in  widely  separated  months  of  the 
year  does  not  prove  that  there  are  two  broods  per  annum  of  that 
species,  unless,  possibly,  in  the  extreme  south,  where  there  is  no 
inactive  winter  resting  season.  It  needs  to  be  shown  that  adults 
appear  in  numbers  twice  per  annum,  alternating  with  two  similar 
appearances  of  newly  hatched  young,  in  order  to  establish  beyond  a 
doubt  the  occurrence  of  two  broods  annually  in  the  life  history  of 
a  species. 

LIFE  HISTORIES. 

There  is  much  variation  in  individuals  of  the  same  species  in 
the  time  of  hatching  ;  and  in  different  species  in  their  life  history 
with  reference  to  the  seasons  of  the  year,  some  passing  the  winter  as 
adults,  some  as  nymphs,  but  by  far  the  most  in  the  egg  stage. 
Schistocercaamericana,Leptysma  marginicollis,  and  several  Tettiginse 
are  examples  of  the  first ;  in  the  Northern  States  Chortophaga 
viridifasciata,  Arphia  sulphur  ea,  and  Hippiscus  luberculatus  are 
examples  of  the  second.  It  seems  not  impossible  that  some  long- 
lived  species  may  occur  as  adults  in  every  month  of  the  year  in 
some  of  the  warmer  zones.  In  reference  to  this  point  observations 
are  needed  during  the  entire  year. 

ZONAL  DISTRIBUTION. 

Owing  to  the  lack,  in  many  cases,  of  definite  data,  the  follow- 
ing statements  concerning  the  zonal  origin  and  distribution  of  the 
genera  of  Acridiidse  of  eastern  North  America  must  be  regarded  as 
purely  tentative,  to  be  corrected  and  revised  as  opportunity  permits. 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDHD^E.  13 

They  are  here  put  forth  as  a  suggestion  and  stimulus  to  further 
research. 

Genera  of  boreal  origin  and  distribution. — Of  the  genera  of 
Acridiidse  occurring  in  eastern  North  America  six  are  boreal: 
Chlocaltis,  Stenobothrus,  Mecostethus,  Camnula,  Circotettix,  Podisma. 
Of  these  Mecostethus  alone  is  confined  to  the  territory  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  so  far  as  known.  Stenobothrus,  Mecostethus,  and 
Podisma  are  Old  World  genera,  and,  with  Gomphocerus,  found 
among  the  Rocky  Mountains,  constitute  a  reminder  of  circumpolar 
land  communication.  If  to  these  we  add  Tettix,  which  is  cosmo- 
politan, we  shall  have  considered  all  the  genera  common  to  Europe 
and  North  America,  with  the  exception  of  Schistoccrca,  austral  in 
distribution,  one  species  of  which  is  believed  to  have  crossed  from 
South  America  to  the  Old  World. 

Genera  of  austral  origin  and  distribution. — In  this  group  are 
found  six  which  are  peculiar  to  the  Gulf  strip  of  the  Lower  Austral 
zone  or  its  immediate  vicinity:  Paxilla,  Rhadinotatum,  Macneillia, 
Gymnoscirtetes,  Eotettix,  Aptenopedes.  Besides  these,  Dictyophorus, 
Arnilia,  and  Leptysma  extend  further  westward  in  the  Lower 
Austral  zone. 

Others  of  austral  origin  and  distribution  are :  Neotettix,  Para- 
tettix,  Apotettix,  Tryxalis,  Mermiria,  Syrbula,  Eritettix,  Ambly- 
tropidia,  Dichro morpha ,  Clinocephalus t  and  Paroxya.  Of  these 
all  but  Paratettix,  Apotettix,  Tryxalis,  Mermiria,  and  Syrbula  are 
confined  to  the  east.  Psinidia  and  Scirtetica,  likewise  confined  to 
the  east  but  probably  of  Sonoran  derivation,  are  doubtless  of 
austral  origin.  Dissosteira,  Hippiscus,  Spharagemon,  Trimerotropis, 
Arphia,  and  Hesperotettix,  of  extended  distribution  both  latitudinally 
and  longitudinally,  are  probably  of  austral  Sonoran  origin,  though 
some  species  have  become  adapted  to  boreal  conditions.  Chorto- 
phaga  and  Encoptolophus ,  possibly  Arphia  also,  there  is  reason  to 
think,  may  have  originated  in  the  east.  Ageneotcttix,  Phcetaliotes, 
and  Mestobregma  have  apparently  but  recently  entered  our  territory 
from  the  west  and  as  yet  occupy  but  a  small  portion  of  it.  The 
place  of  origin  of  Pseudopomala  is  questionable.  Schistocerca  and 
Orphulella  are  undoubtedly  of  austral  origin,  though  containing 
species  which  reach  a  high  altitude  and  latitude.  The  same  is  true 
of  Tettigidea,  and  possibly  of  Nomotettix^  both  of  which  seem  to 
be  typically  eastern  in  distribution.  Melanoplus,  the  dominant 
North  American  genus,  covers  the  continent  from  Labrador  to 
Mexico,  from  Alaska  to  Florida,  and  contains  boreal  and  austral, 
eastern  and  western,  and  humid-land  and  arid-land  species. 


14  NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E. 

LOCUST  SOCIETIES  AND  HABITATS. 

Independently  of  their  zonal  distribution,  the  Acridiidae  may 
be  arranged,  according  to  their  habits,  in  local  groups  which  we 
call,  for  lack  of  a  better  name,  societies  or  associations  of  species. 
These  groups  will  vary  more  or  less  according  to  the  importance 
attached  to  various  environmental  factors  by  the  person  arranging 
them.  We  may  follow  the  botanists  and  recognize  hygrophile, 
xerophile,  and  other  groups,  based  upon  distribution  with  reference 
to  soil  humidity.  We  may  divide  them  into  campestral  and  sylvan 
series,  frequenting  respectively  open  fields  and  savannas  or  forestal 
environments.  Or  we  may  arrange  them  in  still  other  ways. 

We  find,  it  is  true,  species  which  are  characteristic  of  these 
various  surroundings,  and  others  whose  habitats  are  not  so  readily 
classified,  or  which,  widely  distributed  zonally  and  geographically, 
show  no  especial  predilection  for  any  definite  kind  of  environment. 
A  complete  and  satisfactory  classification  of  locust  societies  has  yet 
to  be  made.  The  hurried  character  of  the  trip  forbade  critical 
study  of  this  topic,  and  mention  here  is  made  of  but  a  few  of  the  more 
noticeable  features  connected  with  the  subject  in  the  territory  under 
consideration. 

The  following  table  shows  the  classification  in  outline  of  the 
societies  which  I  have  found  easily  recognizable  in  the  Eastern 
States,  but  it  needs  to  be  amplified  by  further  study.  Fuller 
details  of  distribution  will  be  found  in  the  list  of  species  (p.  24). 

Locust  societies  of  eastern  North  America. 

Geophilous  division.  Phytophilous  division. 

Campestrian  group.  Campestrian  group. 

Xerophile  societies  :  Xerophile  societies  : 

Saxicolous  species.  Hygrophile      " 

Arenicolous      "  Sylvan  group. 

Humicolous     "  Thamnophile  societies. 

Hygrophile  societies :  Dendrophile           " 
Humicolous  species. 
Paludicolous      " 
Limicolous         ' ' 
Sylvan  group. 

Geophilous  locusts  are  those  which  freely  come  into  direct 
contact  with  the  soil  and  whose  local  distribution  is  largely  con- 
trolled by  its  character.  Phytophilous  locusts,  on  the  other  hand, 
have  much  closer  relations  with  the  vegetal  covering  of  the  soil,  be 
it  grass  or  tree.  This  primary  difference  in  habits  is  accompanied 
by  a  structural  difference  in  the  relative  development  of  the  tarsal 
pulvilli — large  in  the  plant-perching  species,  diminutive,  obsoles- 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E.  15 

cent  or  aborted  in  the  soil-inhabiting  species.  In  eastern  North 
America,  with  few  exceptions,  the  Tettiginae  and  Oedipodinae  are 
geophilous;  the  Tryxalinas  and  Acridiinae  are  phytophilous.  In 
the  West,  owing  not  only  to  adaptation  in  habits  to  an  arid  environ- 
ment, but  also  in  part  to  the  close  systematic  relationship  between 
the  Tryxalinae  and  Oedipodinse,  the  distinctness  of  these  two  groups 
is  less  obvious. 

GEOPHILOUS  DIVISION. 

The  geophilous  species  of  eastern  North  America  are  with  one 
partial  exception  campestral  in  distribution,  as  would  naturally  be 
expected.  The  exception,  Spharagemon  bolli,  is  an  inhabitant  of 
xerophytic  forests  as  well  as  of  open  fields,  and  in  the  Southern 
States  is  found  quite  as  often  in  the  forest  as  on  the  open  plain. 

Campestral  Geophiles. — The  campestral  geophilous  species 
may  be  separated  into  two  groups,  showing  xerophile  and  hygro- 
phile  tendencies,  and  represented  respectively  by  the  Oedipodinae 
and  the  Tettiginae.  The  former  group  contains  rock-inhabiting, 
sand-inhabiting,  and  loam-inhabiting  species ;  the  latter  is  made  up 
of  moisture-loving  species,  frequenting  damp  fields,  wet  meadows, 
and  the  shores  of  streams  and  ponds. 

Xerophilous  Geophiles.  —  Of  saxicolous  or  rock-frequenting 
species,  Circotettix  verruculatus  and  Spharagemon  saxatile  of  the 
Northern  States  are  well-known  examples.  These  species  are 
represented  in  certain  parts  of  the  South  by  Trimerotropis  saxatilis, 
whose  habitat  is  likewise  restricted  to  bare  ledges  and  rocky 
hills.  A  colony  of  this  species  is  located  on  Stone  Mountain,  Georgia,  * 
a  granite  mass  which  rises  600  feet  above  the  surrounding  plain 
and  is  almost  entirely  denuded  of  soil,  whose  sun-baked  and  torrent- 
washed  slopes  still  provide  a  scanty  existence  for  a  few  of  these  in- 
sects. (PI.  2,  Fig.  i.)  I  found  it  also  on  the  summit  of  Sand  Mountain 
plateau,  near  Trenton,  Ga.,  frequenting  the  bare  rock  surfaces  of 
the  '  'glades' '  —openings  in  the  forest  caused  by  exposure  or  proximity 
to  the  surface  of  the  underlying  rock.  (PI.  2,  Fig.  2.) 

Of  arenicolous  or  sand-dwelling  species  there  are  several.  On 
the  drifting  sands  of  the  beach  at  Cape  Henry,  Va. ,  between  the 
shore  and  the  dunes,  may  be  found  Trimerotropis  maritima,  the 
maritime  or  sea-side  locust,  occurring  coastwise  from  southwestern 
Maine  at  least  as  far  as  North  Carolina,  and  also  along  the  Great 
Lakes.  This  species  is  unknown  from  inland  localities,  save  as 
noted.  Its  congener,  T.  citrina,  however,  is  found  throughout 

*  See  Senate  Doc.  No.  84,  57th  Congress,  pi.  xix. 


16  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^J. 

the  larger  part  of  the  austral  zones  of  the  Southeastern  States  where- 
ever  the  physical  condition  of  the  soil  presents  a  suitable  environ- 
ment, being  equally  as  much  at  home  on  dusty  roadsides,  sun-beaten 
waste  lands,  and  the  sandy  river  washes  of  the  interior  as  under 
the  nodding  sea  oats  {Uniola  paniculata)  of  the  Virginia  cape,  the 
palms  of  Tybee,  or  on  the  snow  white  strand  at  Fort  Barrancas. 
Plate  3,  Fig.  2  shows  one  of  its  inland  habitats,  a  sandy  river-wash 
at  Morganton,  N.  C.  (See  also  PI.  3,  Fig.  i,  and  PI.  4,  Fig.  i). 
On  and  near  the  coast  Psinidia  fenestralis  and  Scirtetica  picta  are 
frequently  associated  with  it. 

Hydrophilous  Geophiles. — This  group  contains  the  Tettiginse, 
whose  local  distribution  is  apparently  controlled  by  the  presence  of 
conditions  favoring  the  growth  of  algae  and  other  delicate  organisms 
such  as  grow  upon  damp,  humus-enriched  soil,  conditions  favored 
by  a  considerable  degree  of  moisture  and  a  moderate  exposure  to 
light.  Even  the  humus  itself  is  devoured  (Hancock).  Among 
them  we  find  species  such  as  Paratettix  cucullatus,  frequenting  the 
shores  of  ponds  and  streams,  be  they  sandy  or  muddy  ;  others,  like 
Tettigidea  lateralis  (and  Tettix  granulatus  of  the  Northern  States) 
prefer  wet  meadows  and  swales;  and  some,  like  Nomotettix  cristatus 
and  some  species  of  Tcttix,  inhabit  drier  soils  of  arenaceous  loam. 

PHYTOPHII,OUS  DIVISION. 
i 

The  phytophilous  locusts  fall  very  naturally  into  campestral 
and  sylvan  groups. 

Campestral  Phytophiles. — The  campestral  species,  like  those  of 
the  geophilous  series,  may  be  arranged  in  hygrophile  and  xerophile 
groups,  though  perhaps  not  quite  so  successfully. 

Xerophilous  Phytophiles. — A  species  belonging  to  this  group 
and  of  much  interest  in  the  Southern  States  is  Hesperotettix  pra- 
tensis.  This  locust  has  a  very  wide  distribution  in  the  western  part 
of  the  country,  from  Texas  to  Washington  and  from  California  to 
Indiana,  and  was  secured  last  summer  in  the  Southeastern  States 
amid  conditions  much  resembling  those  of  the  arid  West.  A  glance  at 
PI.  5,  Fig.  i  will  show  the  desert-like  surroundings  in  which  it  makes 
its  home  along  the  Gulf  shore  of  Florida,  where  it  is  not  uncommon 
among  the  xerophytic  strand  vegetation  represented  by  Conradina 
canescens,  Quercus  myrtifolia.  Ilex  vomitoria,  Baptisia  villosa,  and 
Ceratiola  ericoides*  the  pungent  aroma  of  the  latter  vividly  recalling 
that  of  the  creosote-bush  {Larrea)  of  the  Sonoran  deserts. 

*  Plant   species   kindly  identified  by  Mr.  J.  M.   Greenman,    of    Harvard 
University. 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E.  17 

Hygrophilous  Phytophiles. — Of  the  hygrophilous  group,  men- 
tion should  be  made  of  Orphulella  olivacea,  a  species  of  wide  range 
along  the  sea-board,  recorded  from  Darien  and  the  Bermudas,  and 
known  in  the  United  States  from  Connecticut,  New  Jersey,  Maryland, 
Georgia,  and  western  Florida.  It  is  the  only  halophilous  locust  of 
the  Eastern  States,  being  restricted  to  salt-marshes  and  the  vegetation 
bordering  brackish  waters.  Near  Fort  Barrancas,  Fla.,  it  frequents 
the  "  spear-grass  "  {Juncus)  fringing  the  inlets,  and  is  often  accom- 
panied by  Paroxya  atlantica  and  P.  ftoridiana.  (See  PI.  4.  Fig.  2.) 

The  two  species  of  Paroxya  just  mentioned  are  also  typical 
hygrophiles,  the  former  not  uncommon  in  grassy  swamps  of  the 
Gulf  region,  the  latter  widely  distributed  in  swampy  stations  in  both 
Upper  and  Lower  Austral  zones  of  the  Eastern  States,  even  far  in- 
land, and  often  accompanied  by  Tryxalis  brevicornis.  Leptysma 
marginicollis,  also,  is  a  common  and  widespread  species  which  fre- 
quents the  erect  growth  of  rushes  and  sedges  which  so  commonly 
margin  the  shores  of  fresh-water  ponds  and  swampy  pools.  In 
meadows  and  moist  fields  of  the  Transition  and  Canadian  zones 
Stenobothrus  curtipennis  finds  a  congenial  home,  often  occurring  in 
countless  numbers.  In  the  damper  portions  of  Coastal  Plain  local- 
ities, where  all  topographic  features  are  in  low  relief,  and  especially 
where  campestral  conditions  are  mixed  with  sylvan  in  the  shape  of 
tangled  thickets  of  undershrubs  and  interlacing  herbage  (PI.  5,  Fig.  2), 
Gymnostirtetes  pusillus,  Aptenopedes  sphenarioides,  Eotettix  pusillus, 
E.  palustris,  and  others  are  to  be  found,  playing  at  hide  and  seek, 
as  it  were,  among  the  rushes,  white-tufted  cotton-grass,  yellow- 
flowered  Xyris,  pink  Sabbatia,  and  tall  Sarracenias.  These  species 
may  with  equal  or  even  greater  propriety  be  placed  in  the  sylvan 
group,  owing  to  the  labyrinthine  character  of  this  environment  and 
their  adaptation  thereto,  as  we  shall  see  later. 

Sylvan  Phytophiles. — Of  this  group  numerous  representatives 
occur  in  the  Southeastern  States,  as  would  naturally  be  expected 
from  the  wide  extent  of  the  forest  and  thicket  covering  character- 
istic of  the  humid  climate.  These  will  be  considered  at  some  length 
under  the  next  topic  and  in  a  general  comparison  of  the  campestral 
and  sylvan  groups. 


MOUNTAIN  HABITATS. 

Among  the  mountains  of  the  southeastern  United  States  cam- 
pestral environments  are  largely  replaced  by  sylvan  in  consequence 
of  the  humidity  of  the  climate ;  they  are,  however,  represented  by 


18  NORTH   AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E. 

clearings  in  the  valleys  along  the  streams  and  by  the  summit  and 
ridge  "  balds."  The  mountain  slopes  are  generally  clothed  with  a 
forest  cover,  either  of  timber  or  of  a  dense,  shrubby  chaparral. 

The  valley  clearings  lie  in  the  Upper  Austral  or  the  Transition 
zone,  according  to  altitude,  and  possess  a  characteristic  campestrian 
locust  fauna  represented  by  such  phytophilous  species  as  Melan- 
oplus femur-rubrum  and  M.  atlanis,  Stenobothrus  curtipennis,  Orphulella 
speciosa,  and  such  geophilous  species  as  Dissosteira  Carolina,  En- 
coptolophus  sordidus,  Chortophaga  viridifasciata,  Tettix  ornatus,  T. 
hancocki,  T.  arenosus,  Paratettix  cucullatus,  Neotettix  bolivari,  etc. 
The  "balds"  are  open  spaces  of  greater  or  less  area  situated  on 
the  summits  or  extending  along  the  ridges  connecting  the  summits 
and  are  used  as  pastures  for  stock.  On  Roan  Mountain  and  adjacent 
summits  these  balds  cover  hundreds  of  acres  and  when  not  too 
closely  grazed  form  sedgy  lawns  of  surpassing  beauty  framed  in  an 
unrivaled  setting  of  pink-flowered  rhododendrons  and  dark  balsam 
firs. 

The  locust  fauna  of  these  balds  is  for  the  most  part  the  same  as 
that  of  the  valley  clearings — campestral  species  of  wide  distribution 
or  of  boreal  character,  but  with  a  distinct  austral  element  (Schistocerca 
americana,  Neotettix  bolivari}  due  to  the  proximity  of  that  zone. 
Below,  and  on  the  ridges,  the  balds  give  place  suddenly  or  gradually 
to  deciduous  forests.  (PI.  i,  Figs,  i,  2;  PI.  8,  Fig.  i.) 

The  forested  areas  present  two  distinct  kinds  of  habitat — trees 
and  undergrowth — inhabited  respectively  by  dendrophile  and  by 
thamnophile  (tree-loving  and  thicket-loving)  species.  The  term 
thamnophilous  I  shall  apply  to  those  dwelling  amid  tangled,  inter- 
lacing, vegetal  undergrowth,  be  it  of  woody  plants  or  herbs,  since 
the  biological  conditions  presented  by  the  two  are  in  certain  import- 
ant respects  essentially  the  same,  as  will  be  seen  later.  No  strictly 
arboreal  species  (such,  for  instance,  as  Melanoplus  punctulatus)  were 
observed,  though  very  likely  occurring. 

THAMNOPHILOUS  SPECIES. 

All  of  the  woodland  species  secured  were  inhabitants  of  under- 
growth, whether  found  among  the  more  open  timber  or  that  forming 
the  sole  forest-cover  of  the  mountain-sides.  The  slopes  of  Grand- 
father Mountain  (see  PI.  i,  Fig.  2)  are  largely  clothed  with  a  dense, 
shrubby  chaparral  or  "laurel  bald"  made  up  of  laurel,  rhododen- 
dron, Menziesia,  Leiophyllum,  etc.,  amid  which  the  apterous  Podisma 
glacialis  vatiegata  finds  a  home.  Here  also  lives  Melanoplus 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^.  19 

sylvestris,  whose  congener  celatus  of  the  Virginia  mountains  bears  an 
even  closer  resemblance  to  their  northern  relative,  M.  islandicus. 
On  the  borders  of  the  clearings  and  balds  and  in  the  more  open 
forests  a  rank  growth  of  "  ol'  rich  weed "  (Eupatorium)  is  fre- 
quently found,  sometimes  covering  wide  areas.  Here  Mdanoplus 
amplectens  {=blatchleyi)  is  a  characteristic  species,  and  at  the  head 
of  Roan  Valley  has  extended  its  habitat  into  the  higher  grassy 
clearings,  thriving  in  myriads  among  the  timothy  and  velvet-grass 
{Phleum  and  Holcus).  (See  PI.  7,  Figs,  i,  2)  Many  other  thicket- 
dwelling  species  were  secured  at  various  elevations. 

A  COMPARISON  OF  CAMPESTRAL  AND  SYLVAN  LOCUSTS. 

Campestrian  Species. — This  group  as  a  whole  includes  locusts 
of  the  open  country,  be  it  wet  or  dry,  marsh  or  mountain,  strand  or 
crag.  Here  belong  our  commonest  and  best-known  locusts  or 
"grasshoppers,"  of  which  typical  examples  are  Melanoplus  femur- 
rubrum  and  Dissosteira  Carolina.  Considered  carefully,  we  find  that 
all  of  the  Oedipodinae  of  the  Eastern  States  fall  into  this  group;  of 
the  Tryxalinae  the  following  genera  :  Mermiria,  Tryxalis,  Syrbula, 
Orphulella,  Eritettix,  Stenobothrus ,  and  Mecostethus  ;  of  the  Acridiinae 
Leptysma,  Arnilia,  Schistocerca,  Paroxya,  and  about  fifteen  species  of 
Melanoplus  (notably  angustipennis ',  atlanis,  bivittatus,  differentiate , 
extreimis,  femoratris,  minor,  propinquus,  symmetricus)  ;  and  a  number 
of  the  Tettiginae. 

Sylvan  Species. — To  this  group  belong  primarily  those  species 
which  inhabit  woodlands  and  thickets  or  their  borders,  such  as 
Chloealtis  conspersa,  Podisma  glacialis  variegata,  Melanoplus  amplectens ,. 
baconi,  fasciatus,  huroni,  islandicus,  luridus,  morsei,  obovatipennis , 
scudderi,  sylvaticus,  viridipes,  and  many  of  the  new  species  secured 
during  my  trip — celatus,  sylvestris,  carnegiei,  decoratus,  deceptus,  devius, 
divergens,  similis,  strumosus,  and  tribulus.  To  these  may  properly 
be  added,  as  already  stated,  several  others  whose  haunts  are  amid 
tangled  herbaceous  growths  wherever  found — such,  for  instance, 
as  Dichromorpha  viridis,  Macneillia  obscura,  Gymnoscirtetes  pusillus, 
the  species  of  Eotettix  and  Aptenopedes,  and  several  Tettigince. 

When  we  compare  the  component  species  of  these  two  groups — 
campestral  and  sylvan — we  are  at  once  struck  with  the  fact  that  a 
very  large  majority  of  the  former  are  long-winged,  and  of  the 
latter  are  short-winged  or  apterous,  a  fact  of  much  biological 
interest. 


20  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E. 

MACROPTEROUS  AND  BRACHYPTEROUS  SPECIES  OF  LOCUSTS. 

The  presence  of  apterous  or  brachypterous,  that  is  to  say,  flight- 
less, species  of  insects  in  a  relatively  large  proportion  is  said  to  be 
characteristic  of  islands  and  alpine  mountain  summits;  and  the 
current  explanation,  that  it  is  due  to  natural  selection  through  the 
agency  of  the  wind,  is  widely  known.  While  not  questioning  the 
efficiency  of  this  agent  in  a  considerable  degree  with  reference  to 
islands  of  small  area,  the  evidence  from  North  American  locusts 
requires  a  different  explanation.  According  to  this  theory  species 
would  be  likely  to  show  a  tendency  toward  brachypterism  along  the 
shores  of  continents.  It  would  be  interesting  to  make  a  quantitative 
study  of  variation  with  reference  to  this  point,  but  there  is  no  evi- 
dence at  hand  to  indicate  that  such  is  the  case.  Furthermore,  flying 
species  appear  to  be  equally  as  common  on  alpine  mountain  summits 
as  flightless  species,  other  conditions  being  the  same. 

In  North  America  the  predominant  group  of  Acridians  is  the 
Melanopli.  Of  these  many  are  brachypterous  or  apterous,  in  short, 
flightless.  The  genera  Bradynotes,  Asemoplus,  Podisma,  and  Para- 
dichroplus  are  typically  alpine  or  sub-alpine  in  distribution  and 
are  flightless.  The  genera  Gymnoscirtetes ,  Eotettix,  Aptenopedes, 
Phoetaliotes,  Paratylotropidia,  and  others  are  of  lowland  distribution 
and  are  likewise  flightless.  There  are  many  flightless  species  of 
Melanoplus,  the  dominant  genus  of  the  group,  which  are  likewise  of 
lowland  distribution,  and  others  which  are  found  at  high  elevations 
in  mountainous  regions,  some  above  and  some  below  timber  line. 
In  other  groups  there  are  numerous  lowland  genera  containing 
only  brachypterous  species  (Rhadinotatum,  Macneillia,  Mesochloa, 
Dichromorpha,  Clinocephalus ',  Boopedon,  Brachystola,  Dictyophorus , 
Pseudopomala,  etc.).  Flightless  genera  and  species  are  distributed 
impartially  as  to  numbers  over  lowland  and  highland  areas,  in 
Austral  and  Boreal  life  zones.  Some  factor  other  than  the  wind 
must  consequently  be  involved. 

The  solution  of  this  problem  lies  in  the  arrangement  of  the 
Acridiidse  in  the  two  groups,  campestral  and  sylvan,  and  the  factor 
involved  is,  adaptation  of  structure  to  habits  brought  about  by  a 
sylvan  environment.  This  has  caused  a  change  in  structure  through 
disuse  of  the  organs  of  flight.  In  short,  Brachypterism  in  locusts  is  a 
more  complete  adaptation  to  a  leaping  mode  of  progression  brought  about 
by  life  in  situations  where  flight  is  difficult  or  impracticable,  and 
consequently  disadvantageous.  That  this  is  the  true  explanation  is 
indicated  by  the  habits  and  haunts  of  the  majority  of  the  flightless 
species  (sylvan  surroundings  or  tangled  undergrowth  wherever 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E.  21 

found);  by  their  distribution  locally,  horizontally,  and  vertically; 
and  by  the  equally  characteristic  habits,  haunts,  and  distribution  of 
macropterous  species  as  inhabitants  of  the  open  field,  desert,  or 
savanna. 

The  advantages  of  progression  by  flight — dispersal  widely  and 
easily  effected,  often  aided  by  the  wind,  ease  of  escape  from  many 
enemies,  etc.,  and  the  superiority  of  this  mode  in  open  lands — are 
evident  to  all.  On  the  other  hand,  long  wings  and  locomotion  by 
flight  are  disadvantageous  amid  dense  underbrush,  where  a  leaping 
mode  of  progression  has  decided  advantages.  Organs  unused  or 
disadvantageous  tend  to  dwindle  and  disappear;  hence  the  loss 
of  wings. 

If  the  members  of  a  group  of  locusts,  be  it  genus  or  subfamily, 
differ  widely  in  habits  as  regards  these  two  kinds  of  environment — 
campestral  and  sylvan — we  find  a  corresponding  difference  in  wing 
length,  as  witness  the  genus  Melanoplus,  the  group  Melanopli,  the 
subfamily  Acridiinse.  On  the  other  hand,  if  uniformity  of  habits 
characterizes  a  group,  similarity  of  structure  accompanies  it,  as 
witness  the  Oedipodinae,  a  subfamily  characteristic  of  open,  more 
or  less  arid  surroundings,  inhabiting  barren  fields  and  washes,  the 
drifting  dunes  of  the  seashore,  or  bare  crags  of  mountain  summits, 
shy  and  wary  of  approach,  seeking  safety  in  flight,  and  with  few 
exceptions  equipped  with  large  and  powerful  wings. 

BRACHYPTERISM  IN  OTHER  ORTHOPTERA. 

Among  other  Orthoptera  apterous  species  are  numerous  both 
in  saltatorial  and  non-saltatorial  families.  On  examination  we  find 
that  genera  and  species  inhabiting  trees  and  shrubs  (Scudderia, 
Microcentrum,  Cyrtophyllus ,  Oecanthus,  etc.)  and  open  grassy  lands 
{Conocephalus) ,  are  prevailingly  long- winged,  while  those  inhab- 
iting either  undergrowth  (Xiphidium  in  part,  Odontoxiphidium) , 
crevices  and  caves  (Ceuthophili,  Decticinse,  many  Blattidse,  and 
Gryllidse),  or  burrows,  either  of  other  species  or  of  their  own  make 
(Cryptocercus,  Myrmecophila,  mole-crickets  in  part),  are  very  likely  to 
be  apterous  or  brachypterous,  an  evident  adaptation  in  structure  to 
habits  directly  parallel  with  that  of  brachypterous  locusts  (cf.  also 
ants,  termites). 

On  close  analysis  it  is  found  that  Orthoptera  frequenting  habi- 
tats involving  passage  over  open  spaces  of  considerable  extent,  such  as 
fields,  between  trees  in  forests,  and  bushes  or  thickets  in  deserts, 
are  usually  long-winged,  flying  species  ;  and  others  dwelling  in  an 
environment  of  more'or  less  dense,  intricate,  interlacing  vegetal  growth, 


BIO-AGRICULTUR 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ( 
Rl\/FPQinc:  r»Ai  u 


22  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E. 

be  it  sub-alpine  or  sub-tropical,  in  forest  or  swamp — or  in  burrows, 
crevices,  etc. — in  short,  in  stations  where  wings  are  not  needed  or 
are  at  a  disadvantage,  are  very  generally  apterous  or  brachypterous. 
Brachypterism,  therefore,  appears  to  be  largely  not  so  much 
a  case  of  natural  selection  through  the  agency  of  the  wind  as  an 
adaptation  in  structure  to  habits.  The  fact  that  the  heavier-bodied 
female  is  more  frequently  or  completely  brachypterous  than  the 
male  and  that  the  tegmina  in  the  latter  sex  when  used  as  musical 
instruments  are  retained  in  a  less  degenerate  condition  (even  when 
entirely  useless  in  flight),  confirms  this  explanation  of  brachypterism. 

"BURNING  OVER"  AS  A  FACTOR  IN  DISTRIBUTION. 
A  factor  which  must  seriously  affect  the  distribution  of  some 
species  is  the  widespread  custom  of  "  burning  over"  the  mountains 
to  improve  the  range  for  stock.  This  practice  results  necessarily  in 
the  destruction  of  much  of  the  woody  debris  lying  upon  the  ground 
which  is  used  as  a  nidus  for  the  eggs  by  Chloealtis  conspersa,  a  short- 
winged  boreal  species  of  wide  distribution  in  the  Northern  States, 
where  it  is  plentiful  in  numbers  even  on  the  offshore  islands.  A 
very  few  examples  of  this  species  were  found  at  high  elevations  in 
the  mountains  of  western  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  and  it  would 
seem  not  unlikely  that  the  custom  referred  to  may  be  largely 
responsible  for  its  scarcity  in  that  region.  Since  the  burning  is 
usually  done  during  the  winter,  or  at  least  in  the  inactive  season  of 
locust  life,  it  would  affect  a  species  having  the  habit  of  oviposition 
mentioned  more  injuriously  than  one  ovipositing  in  the  earth. 

HYBRIDS,  VARIETIES,  AND  OTHER  TOPICS. 

What  is  apparently  a  case  of  hybridization  resembling  that  of 
Basilarchia  artkemis  and  B,  astyanax  among  butterflies  occurs  in 
Virginia  between  two  species  of  Trimerotropis,  T.  citrina  has  been 
already  referred  to  as  being  widely  distributed  in  the  Southeastern 
States,  frequenting  sandy  areas.  At  Cape  Henry  and  Virginia  Beach 
it  meets  T.  maritima,  a  more  northern  species  whose  range  extends 
to  North  Carolina  at  least.  Where  the  ranges  of  the  two  overlap, 
typical  forms  of  both  species  are  found,  and  intergrades  of  all 
degrees  of  resemblance  to  either  occur  in  numbers.  Were  not  the 
typical  forms  present  it  would  appear  to  be  simply  intergradation, 
as  appears  to  be  the  case  in  the  related  genus  Scirtetica.  In  the 
latter  genus  S.  marmorata,  found  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut, 
differs  markedly  in  degree  of  pigmentation  of  the  wings  and  slightly 
in  structure  from  5".  picta  of  Florida  ;  but  North  Carolina  specimens 


NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E.  23 

are  so  exactly  intermediate  that  they  can  be  referred  to  neither 
species  with  certainty.  If  intergradation  prove  to  be  the  case,  the 
increased  amount  of  pigmentation  in  the  southern  form  is  noteworthy, 
paralleled  as  it  is  in  other  genera.  Additional  material  in  series, 
and,  if  practicable,  experimentation,  is  needed  to  determine  the 
relation  of  these  forms  and  the  possible  effect  of  climatic  conditions. 
Other  topics  connected  with  the  biological  study  of  this  group 
of  insects,  such  as  coloration  and  stridulation,  were  given  little 
attention,  owing  to  the  limited  time  for  observation  in  the  field. 
It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  many  of  the  Oedipodinse  collected  (espe- 
cially Trimerotropis ,  Scirtetica,  Hippiscus,  Psinidia,  and  Spharagemon) 
exhibited  in  a  high  degree  their  customary  phases  of  coloration 
for  concealment  when  at  rest  (see  PI.  8,  Fig.  2)  and  for  display  (recog- 
nition or  sexual  coloration)  when  on  the  wing,  in  the  latter  case 
accompanied  by  a  crepitating  flight  which  in  itself  attracts  attention. 

SPECIES  OP  ECONOMIC  IMPORTANCE. 

The  only  species  met  with  in  sufficient  numbers  to  be  of 
economic  importance  were  Schistocerca  americana,  Stenobothrns  curti- 
pennis,  Melanoplus  differentialis ,  M.  atlanis,  M.  ampledens,  and  possibly 
Chortophaga  viridifasciata.  But  three  localities  were  found  where 
any  of  these  were  abundant  enough  to  cause  considerable  damage. 
Schistocerca  americana  occurs  throughout  the  entire  region  visited, 
from  the  seashore  to  the  tops  of  the  highest  mountains,  but  was 
found  in  numbers  only  near  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  where  it  was 
accompanied  by  M.  differentialis.  M.  atlanis  also  was  observed  nearly 
everywhere  and  is  perhaps  the  most  dangerous,  potentially,  of  any 
species  inhabiting  the  region.  It  was  excessively  plentiful  at  I<in- 
ville,  N.  C.,  where  its  numbers  threaten  serious  injury  if  they  con- 
tinue to  increase.  In  the  high  grassy  coves  of  Roan  Valley,  on  the 
south  side  of  Roan  Mountain,  the  fields  were  alive  with  adults  and 
young  of  M.  amplectens  (blatchleyi)  a  species  which  is  capable  of  doing 
much  damage  locally,  but,  being  short-winged,  is  unable  to  extend 
its  ravages  far.  Stenobothrus  curtipennis  also  was  very  plentiful  at 
Linville  and  Roan  Valley. 

Inquiries  made  as  to  damage  by  locusts  elicited  little  definite 
information.  A  few  complaints  were  received  of  injuries  to  tobacco 
leaves  occasionally,  and  to  young  crops  in  the  spring.  From  the 
description  furnished  and  the  life  history  of  the  species  it  is  suspected 
that  Chortophaga  viridifasciata  may  be  the  culprit  in  the  latter  case. 
Any  locust  outbreak  occurring  is  likely  to  be  of  rather  local  char- 
acter and  probably  could  be  suppressed  promptly  at  small  expense. 


24  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E. 

LIST  OF  SPECIES  AND  LOCALITIES  FROM  WHICH  COLLECTED. 

The  following  list  includes  all  of  the  species  of  Acridiidae  taken 
during  the  trip,  with  date  and  place  of  capture  and  notes  on  habitat. 
References  to  original  descriptions  and  bibliography  have  been 
omitted,  except  when  such  seemed  especially  desirable  or  necessary, 
such  as  those  to  new  species  secured  upon  the  trip  (already  pub- 
lished), which  form  an  intrinsic  part  of  the  work  done  under 
this  grant. 

The  sequence  of  groups  is  that  of  Scudder's  Catalogue  of  the 
Described  Orthoptera  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  (Proc. 
Davenport  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  1900). 

Unless  otherwise  indicated  the  data  here  given  refer  to  adult 
specimens.  The  young,  when  identifiable  with  reasonable  certainty, 
are  included  also  in  numerous  instances  ;  but  a  large  number  cannot 
as  yet  be  determined.  For  the  purpose  of  elucidating  life  histories, 
the  stage  of  development  of  the  young,  reckoning  five  nymph  stages, 
is  given  in  many  cases.  Data  based  on  immature  specimens  are 
placed  in  parentheses.  Thus  "(Asheville,  July  22,  juv.  5)"  indi- 
cates that  the  record  for  this  locality  is  based  on  young  in  the  fifth 
stage;  "Virginia  Beach,  July  2,  (juv.  4),  Sept.  7,"  indicates  that 
adults  were  secured  on  July  2  and  September  7  and  young  in  the 
fourth  stage  on  July  2.  The  season,  judging  from  the  development 
of  vegetation,  I  was  informed  at  nearly  every  locality  during  the  first 
half  of  the  trip,  was  from  two  to  three  weeks  late.  This  fact  should 
be  taken  into  consideration  when  estimating  the  time  of  appearance 
of  the  species  in  the  mature  state. 

Statements  with  "reference  to  the  zonal  distribution  of  the  species 
usually  apply  simply  to  the  territory  under  consideration,  and  must 
be  regarded  as  more  or  less  tentative,  owing  to  the  lack  of  adequate 
data.  It  is  hoped  that  students  and  collectors  will  give  more  atten- 
tion to  this  matter  in  the  future  and  record  the  character  of  the 
habitat  as  well  as  the  exact  locality  where  the  various  species  are 
found. 

TETTIGINAE. 
Nomotettix  cristatus  Scudd. 

Virginia:  Cape  Henry,  July  2,  (juv.). 

North  Carolina:  Asheville,   July  22;    (Blowing  Rock,    July   19,   juv.); 

(Morganton,  July  20,  }uv.);  (Murphy,  Aug.  22,  juv.);  Saluda,  Aug.  17; 

(Selma,  July  7,  juv.). 

South  Carolina :  Denmark,  Aug.  14,  15,  (juv.). 
Georgia:  (Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25,  juv.);  Waycross,  Aug.  n. 
Florida:  (Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  juv.). 
Alabama:  Flomaton,  Aug.  i. 


NORTH   AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E.  25 

Austral  and  Transition  zones.  Widely,  rather  than  generally 
distributed.  It  is  seemingly  most  at  home  in  the  damper  portions 
of  upland  fields  on  sandy  loam,  under  which  conditions  it  is  some- 
times locally  abundant  in  the  Northern  States.  In  the  South  it  was 
found  on  the  same  kind  of  soil,  chiefly  at  low  elevations,  the  young 
at  this  season  of  the  year  decidedly  outnumbering  the  adults. 

Ncotettix  bolivari  Hanc. 

(Including  N.   rotundifrons ,   and  probably    synonymous    with    Tettix 

femoratus  Scudd.) 
Virginia  :  Cape  Henry,  July  2,  Sept.  7,  (juv.);  Hickory,  July  3  ;  Virginia 

Beach,  July  4,  Sept  7. 
North  Carolina  :  Asheville,  July  21,  22;  Balsam,  July  23,  Aug.  20,  3000  to 

4000  feet ;   Eure,  July  5  ;  Governor  Island,  Aug.  20,  (juv.)  ;   1,invillei 

July  17,  18;  Morganton,  July  12,  20;  (Murphy,  July  25,  juv.);  Pineola; 

July  13;    Raleigh,  July  8,  9;   Roan  Mountain.  July  15,   5500  feet; 

Salisbury,  July  n  ;  Saluda,  Aug.  17;  Tarboro,  July  6;  Tunis,  July  5. 
South  Carolina :  Denmark,  Aug.  15,  (juv.) ;  Spartanburg,  Aug.  16. 
Georgia:  Bolton,  July  29,  (juv.);  (Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25,  juv.);  Tybee, 

Aug.   12  ;   Waycross,   Aug.  II,   (juv.)  ;  West  Point,  July  30. 
Florida :  De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5;  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  (juv.);  Marianna, 

Aug.  6,  7,  (juv.)  ;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8  ;  Warrington,  Aug.  4,  (juv.). 
Alabama:  Flomaton,  Aug.  I,  2,  (juv.)  ;  Greenville,  July  31,  (juv.). 
Tennessee:  Burbank,  July  17;  (Johnson  City,  Aug.  27,  juv.)  ;  Morristown, 

Aug.  27. 

Austral  and  Transition  zones  of  the  Southeastern  States,  some- 
times occurring  in  adjoining  portions  of  Canadian  zone.  Generally 
distributed;  plentiful,  sometimes  abundant  locally,  preferring  rather 
moist  soils  and  sandy  loam.  This  is  one  of  the  characteristic 
species  of  the  Southeastern  States,  and  is  very  common  in  the  adult 
stage  during  the  summer.  The  relative  proportion  of  the  long- 
winged  and  short-winged  forms  varies  very  much  in  different 
localities,  a  series  of  152  specimens  from  Waycross,  Ga.,  containing 
equal  numbers ;  but  the  usual  proportion  of  long- winged  examples 
is  much  lower,  ranging  from  5  to  20  per  cent. 

Neotettix  bolteri  Hanc. 

Florida:  Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8,  (juv.);  Warrington, 
Aug.  4. 

Thus  far  known  only  from  Florida,  but  will  very  likely  be 
found  to  occur  in  the  Lower  Austral  zone  of  the  adjoining  States. 

Tettix  arenosus  Burm. 

Virginia :  Roanoke,  Sept.  6. 

North  Carolina:  Asheville,  July  22;  Pineola,  Aug.  28;  Roan  Mountain, 
July  16,  Aug.  31,  5500  feet;  Tunis,  July  5,  (juv.). 


26  NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIIDJE. 

South  Carolina:  Spartanburg,  Aug.  16. 

Florida  :  Mariaima,  Aug.  6,  7. 

Alabama :  Flomaton,  Aug.  2. 

Tennessee:  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24. 

Austral  and  Transition  zones,  especially  the  former.  A  humi- 
colous  species  widely  distributed  in  the  Eastern  States,  and  present- 
ing many  variations  in  details  of  form  and  proportions. 

Tettix  omattts  Say. 

North  Carolina :  Asheville,  July  22 ;   Balsam,  Aug.  20,  3000  to  3500  feet ; 
Governor  Island,  Aug.  20;   L,inville,  July  17;   Pineola,  July  13,  14; 
Roan  Mountain,  July  16,  (Aug.  31,  juv.)  5500  to  6000  feet,  ;  Salisbury, 
July  n,  (juv.). 
Tennessee:  Burbank,  July  17  ;  Morristown,  Aug.  27. 

Numerous  young  specimens  of  this  or  the  following  species 
were  taken  at  several  of  the  localities  named  above. 

A  boreal  species  common  and  widely  distributed  in  the  Transi- 
tion and  Canadian  zones,  having  much  the  same  haunts  as  Nomo- 
tettix  cristatus,  but  showing  a  preference  for  a  greater  degree  of 
humidity. 

Tettix  hancocki  Morse. 

Virginia  :  Roanoke,  Sept.  6. 

North  Carolina  :  Asheville,  July  21  ;  L,inville,  July  17  ;  Pineola,  July  13, 

14,  Aug.  28 ;  Roan  Mountain,  July  16,  5500  feet  ;  Roan  Valley,  July  16. 
Tennessee:  Burbank,   July  17;    Morristown,   Aug.    27;    Roan   Mountain 

Station,  July  17. 

(See  note  concerning  young  under  T.  ornatus). 

A  humicolous  species  of  boreal  origin,  nearly  related  to  T. 
ornatus,  widely  distributed  in  the  Transition  zone  of  the  Central 
and  Appalachian  regions. 

Apotettix  twgosus  Scudd. 

Georgia :  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  12. 

Lower  Austral  zone.  But  three  examples  of  this  species  were 
secured,  in  a  wet  meadow  near  Fort  Screven. 

Paratettix  cucullatus  Burm. 
Virginia:  Wytheville,  Sept.  5. 
North  Carolina:  Asheville,  July  22,  (juv.)  ;  Balsam,  July  23,  Aug.  19,  20; 

Linville,  July  18  ;    Morganton,  July  20;    Murphy,  July  25,    (juv.); 

(Raleigh,  July  9,  juv.) ;  Salisbury,  July  n  ;  Topton,  Aug  21. 
South  Carolina:  Spartanburg,  Aug.  16,  (juv.). 
Georgia:  Blue  Ridge,  July  25  ;  Bolton,  July  29;   Jasper,  July  25,  (juv.)  ; 

Marietta,  July  27,  (juv.). 
Florida  :  Marianna,  Aug.  7,  (juv.). 

Alabama:  Flomaton,  Aug.  i;  (Greenville,  July  31,  juv.). 
Tennessee :  Burbank,  July  17  ;  Roan  Mountain  Station,  Sept.  3,  (juv.). 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E.  27 

Austral  and  warmer  parts  of  Transition  zones.  A  widely  dis- 
tributed limicolous  species,  often  occurring  abundantly  on  the  shores 
of  ponds,  pools,  and  streams. 

Paxilla  obesa  Scudd. 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15,  (juv.). 
Florida  :  (De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5,  juv.). 

L,ower  Austral  zone.  Hitherto  reported  only  from  Georgia, 
these  captures  greatly  extend  its  known  range.  A  very  few  ex- 
amples were  secured  in  wet  stations  near  springs  or  swampy 
ground. 

Tettigfidea  prorsa  Scudd. 

South  Carolina:  Denmark,  Aug.  14,  15,  (juv.). 

I^ower  Austral  Zone.  A  single  pair  and  two  nearly  full  grown 
young  were  secured  on  wet  ground  near  a  stagnant  pool. 

Tettigidea  latetalis  Say. 

To  this  species  are  referred  provisionally  a  considerable  number 
of  specimens  from  widely  distributed  localities.  It  is  not  impossible 
that  two  species  may  be  included  among  them,  but  at  present 
so  little  is  definitely  known  regarding  specific  characters  and  limita- 
tions in  this  difficult  genus  that  it  seems  wisest  to  await  the 
accumulation  of  material  and  observations. 

Virginia:  Appomattox,  Sept.  6,  (juv.);  Cape  Henry,  July  2,  (juv.),  Sept.  7, 
(juv.);  Hickory,  Julys;  (Norfolk,   Sept.    8,   juv.);  Roanoke,  Sept  6  ; 
Virginia  Beach,  Sept.  7,  (juv.);  (Wytheville,  Sept.  4,  5,  juv.). 
North  Carolina:  Asheville,  July  22,  (juv.);  Balsam,  July  23,  (juv.),  (Aug. 
20,  juv.)  ;  (Cranberry,  Aug.  28,  juv.) ;  (Eure,  July  5,  juv.)  ;  Governor 
Island,  Aug.   20,  (juv.);   L,inville,  July  17,  18,  (juv.),  (Aug.  30,  juv.); 
Morganton,   (July  12,  juv.),  July  20,  (juv.)  ;  Raleigh,  July  8,  (juv.) ; 
Roan  Mountain,  July  16 ;    Roan  Valley,   July   16;  Pineola,  July  13, 
(juv.),  (Aug.  23,  juv.);    Salisbury,  July  n,  (juv.);   Saluda,  Aug.   17 
(juv.) ;  Selma,  July  7;     Tunis,  July  5,  (juv.). 
South  Carolina :  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 
Georgia:  (Jasper,  July  25,  juv.);  Marietta,  July  27;  Savannah,  Aug.  14, 

(juv.)  ;  Waycross,  Aug.  n,  (juv.). 
Florida :   Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3,  (juv.) ;    Marianna,  Aug.  6,   (juv.),  7  ; 

Tallahassee,  Aug.  8. 

Alabama:  Flomaton,  Aug.  i,  (juv.),  2  ;  (Greenville,  July  31,  juv.). 
Tennessee:    (Burbank,  July   17,  juv.)  ;    Chattanooga,    Aug.    24,    (juv.); 
Johnson  City,  Aug.  27,  (juv.) ;  Morristown,  Aug.  27  ;  Roan  Mountain 
Station,  Sept.  3,  (juv.). 

Austral  and  southern  parts  of  Transition  zones.  The  forms 
here  included  are  widely  and  generally  distributed  in  damp  locations 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  Eastern  States.  Typically  they  differ 


28  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E. 

markedly  from  the  northern  forms  to  which  I  have  applied  Harris's 
name  {parvipennis} ,  but  their  true  relation  to  the  latter  and  to  each 
other  has  yet  to  be  determined.  Series  of  specimens  captured  in 
different  localities  differ  much  in  the  relative  proportion  of  long  and 
short  winged  individuals.  The  reason  for  this,  whether  environ- 
mental, or  in  some  cases  possibly  indicating  varietal  differences, 
has  yet  to  be  discovered. 

Locusts  of  this  genus  are  usually  found  most  abundantly  in 
moist  or  wet  meadows  and  marshes  with  soils  of  sandy  loam,  show- 
ing a  preference  for  a  habitat  intermediate  in  degree  of  humidity 
between  such  species  as  Nomotettix  cristatus  and  Tettix  ornatus  on 
the  one  hand  and  Paratettix  cucullatus  on  the  other. 

Tettigidea  armata  Morse. 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 

Austral.  A  single  specimen  of  the  short-winged  form  of  this 
species  was  secured  in  the  same  place  as  the  examples  of  Paxilla 
obesa  and  Tettigidea  prorsa. 

TRYXALINAE. 

Rhadinotatum  brevipenne  Thom. 

Georgia:  (Savannah,  Aug.  14,  juv.) ;  (Waycross,  Aug.  n,  juv.). 
Florida:    (De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5,  juv.) ;   Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  (juv.)  ; 

(Tallahassee,  Aug.  8,  juv.). 
Alabama:  (Greenville,  July  31,  juv.). 

The  nymphs  represent  two  early  stages,  but  which  ones  cannot 
be  determined  with  certainty  (probably  i  and  2)  until  the  entire 
series  is  known. 

A  single  adult  female  and  several  young  examples  of  this 
peculiar  locust  were  secured  in  grassy  swamps. 

Tryxalis  bfevicornis  Linn. 

North  Carolina:  Asheville,  July  22,  (juv.  4,  5) ;  Governor  Island,  Aug.  20; 

(Lenoir,   on  road  toward   Blowing    Rock,  about  1500  feet,  July  19, 

juv.  3,  4,  5) ;  (Morgan ton,  July  12,  juv.  4)  ;  (Salisbury,  July  n,  juv. 

4,  5) ;  Saluda,  Aug.  17. 
Georgia:  Jasper,  July  25  ;  Marietta,  July  27,  (juv.  4,  5)  ;  Stone  Mountain, 

July  28,  1000  feet,  (juv.  5). 
Florida  :  Marianna,  Aug.  6. 
Alabama:  Greenville,  July  31,  (juv.  4). 
Tennessee :  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24  ;  Johnson  City,  Aug.  27. 

Austral  zones.  Widely  distributed  but  rather  local.  A  cam- 
pestrian  species  inhabiting  the  rank  herbage  of  swamps,  meadows, 
and  the  vicinity  of  streams. 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDHD^E.  29 

Mcrmiria  alacris  Scudd. 

?  North  Carolina:  (Salisbury,  July  n,  juv.  2). 

Georgia:  Waycross,  Aug.  n. 

?  Florida:  (Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  juv.  4). 

The  young  specimens  are  referred  to  this  species  with  some 
doubt. 

Lower  (?)  Austral.  Campestrian  ;  in  old  fields  on  bunch- 
grass. 

Metmiria  bivittata  Serv. 

Florida  :  Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3. 

Lower  Austral.  A  single  male  was  taken  in  the  spear-grass 
(Jtmcus)  fringing  the  inlet  shown  in  PI.  4,  Fig.  2. 

Mermiria  intertexta  Scudd. 

Georgia:  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  12,  (juv.  5). 

Lower  Austral.  This  fine  locust  was  plentiful  in  a  swamp 
among  the  dunes  near  the  south  end  of  the  island,  inhabiting  a  rank 
growth  of  coarse  grasses  and  herbage.  It  is  a  shy  and  active 
species,  flying  freely  and  far,  and  on  alighting  dodges  quickly 
around  the  grass  stems  to  escape  observation,  or,  slipping  nimbly 
downward  and  backward,  seeks  to  hide  itself. 

Syrbuta  admxrabilis  Uhl. 

Virginia  :  Appomattox,  Sept.  6  ;  Cape  Henry,  Sept.  7  ;  Norfolk,  Sept.  8  ; 
Roanoke,  Sept.  6 ;  Virginia  Beach,  Sept.  7. 

North  Carolina  :  (Eure,  July  5,  juv.  2,  4,  5) ;  (Greensboro,  July  10,  juv.  r, 
2,  3,  4) ;  (Morganton,  July  20,  juv.  2,  4,  5) ;  (Raleigh,  July  8,  9,  juv.  I, 
2,  5) ;  (Salisbury,  July  n,  juv.  3,  4) ;  (Selma,  July  7,  juv.  2,  4) ;  (Tar- 
bo  ro,  July  6,  juv.  3,  4). 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  14,  15,  (juv.  5)  ;  Spartanburg,  Aug.  16,  17, 
(juv.  5). 

Georgia:  (Bolton,  July  29,  juv.  5)  ;  Jasper,  July  25,  26,  (juv.  3,  4,  5)  ; 
(Marietta,  July  27,  juv.  3,  5)  ;  Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25 ;  Savannah, 
Aug.  14,  (juv.  4)  ;  Stone  Mountain,  July  28,  (juv.  3,  4,  5)  ;  Waycross, 
Aug.  11,  (juv.  4)  ;  West  Point,  July  30,  (juv.  5). 

Florida:  De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5,  (juv.  4,  5);  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10, 
(juv.  5) ;  Marianna,  Aug.  6,  7,  (juv.  3,  5) ;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8,  (juv.  5) ; 
(Warrington,  Aug.  4,  juv.  5). 

Alabama  :  Flomaton,  Aug.  i,  2,  (juv.  3,  5)  ;   Greenville,  July  31,  (juv.  3). 

Tennessee :  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24  ;  (Johnson  City,  Aug.  27,  juv.  5) ;  Look- 
out Mountain,  Aug.  23  ;  Morristown,  Aug.  27;  Roan  Mountain  Station, 
Sept.  3,  (juv.  5). 

Austral  zones.  A  widely  and  generally  distributed  campestral 
species,  common  in  upland  fields  amid  Andropogon  and  other 
coarse  grasses. 


30  NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E. 

Eritcttix  sp. 

Virginia:  (Appomattox,  Sept.  6,  juv.) ;  (Wytheville,  Sept,  4,  5,  juv.). 
North  Carolina  :  (Saluda,  Aug.  17,  juv.). 
Georgia  :  (Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25,  juv.). 

All  the  specimens  are  nymphs  in  the  second  and  third  stages. 

Upper  Austral.     A  very  few  examples  were  secured,  in  dry 
upland  fields  on  sandy  soil. 

Macneillia  obscura  Scudd. 

Florida  :  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  (juv.  2) . 

Lower  Austral.      A  rare   species  occurring   among  the  low 
shrubbery  and  tangled  herbage  of  the  piney  woods  of  Florida. 

Amblytropidia  occidcntalis  Sauss. 

Numerous  young  specimens  which  I  refer  to  this  species  with 
some  doubt  were  secured  while  sweeping. 
North  Carolina:  (Selma,  July  7,  juv.  I,  2). 
South  Carolina:  (Denmark,  Aug.  14,  juv.  2,  4). 

Georgia:  (Jasper,  July  26,  juv.  2);  (Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25,  juv.  2,  3,4); 
(Savannah,  Aug.  14,  juv.  4) ;  (Stone  Mountain,  July  28,  juv.  2)  ; 
(Waycross,  Aug.  n,  juv.  3). 

Florida:  (De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5,  juv.  4) ;  (Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  juv.  3, 4) ; 
(Tallahassee,  Aug.  8,  juv.  3,  4). 

Austral  zones.     Widely  and  rather  generally   distributed  in 
campestrian  surroundings. 

Orphulella  olivacea  Morse. 

Georgia:  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  12,  13,  (juv.  4,  5). 

Florida  :  Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3,  (juv.  5)  ;  Warrington,  Aug.  4. 

A  maritime  species  of  austral  origin  and  distribution,  ranging 
from  Darien  to  the  Bermudas,  and  known  on  our  coast  from 
Connecticut  to  western  Florida.  It  is  a  halophilous  campestrian 
species  found  only  in  salt  marshes  or  along  the  shores  of  brackish  ' 
inlets,  often  plentiful  locally.  This  species,  with  its  companions 
Paroxya  atlantica  and  floridiana  and  Orckelimum  herbaceum,  are 
characteristic  of  the  Juncus  fringes  of  the  tidal  inlets  and  pools  of 
the  southern  coast,  equally  quick  to  seek  safety  in  flight,  or  if  hard 
pressed  to  drop  downward  into  the  protecting  shelter  at  the  bases  of 
the  tall,  sharp-pointed  culms.  (See  PI.  4,  Fig.  2.) 

Orphulella  speciosa  Scudd. 

Virginia :  Wytheville,  Sept.  4. 
North  Carolina :  Linville,  July  18. 


NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E.  31 

Transition  (and  Canadian  ?)  zone.  A  northern  offshoot  of  an 
austral  genus,  adapted  to  more  boreal  conditions.  It  is  exceedingly 
plentiful  in  the  Northeastern  States,  but  was  met  with  only  sparingly 
at  the  localities  named.  Campestral,  inhabiting  by  preference 
grassy  fields  on  sandy  soil. 

Ofphulella  pelidna  Burm. 

All  the  remaining  adult  specimens  of  this  genus  which  were 
secured  I  refer  to  this  species.  Numerous  immature  specimens  in 
the  fourth  and  fifth  stages,  and  a  few  younger,  were  also  taken  at 
many  of  the  localities  named,  and  probably  belong  chiefly  or  ex- 
clusively to  this  species.  The  data  given  below  are  based  entirely 
on  adults. 

Virginia  :  Appomattox,  Sept.  6 ;  Cape  Henry,  July  2,  Sept.  7  ;  Hickory, 
July  3  ;  Norfolk,  Sept.  8 ;  Virginia  Beach,  July  2,  Sept.  7. 

North  Carolina :  Balsam,  Aug.  19,  3000  feet ;  Cranberry,  Aug.  28 ;  Eure, 
July  5,  6;  Grandfather  Mountain,  Aug.  29,  5000  feet;  Morganton,  July 
20  ;  Murphy,  July  25  ;  Pineola,  Aug.  28  ;  Raleigh,  July  8,  9  ;  Saluda, 
Aug.  17  ;  Selma,  July  7 ;  Tarboro,  July  6,  7  ;  Topton,  Aug.  21,  3000  to 
4000  feet ;  Tunis;  July  5. 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  14,  15. 

Georgia  :  Blue  Ridge,  July  25  ;  Bolton,  July  29 ;  Jasper,  July  26 ;  Marietta, 
July  27 ;  Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25  ;  Savannah,  Aug.  14  ;  Stone  Moun- 
tain, July  28  ;  Waycross,  Aug.  n  ;  West  Point,  July  30. 

Florida :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9 ;  De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5  ;  Port  Barrancas, 
Aug.  3  ;  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10  ;  Marianna,  Aug.  6,  7  ;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8 ; 
Warrington,  Aug.  4. 

Alabama  :  Flomaton,  Aug.  i,  2 ;  Greenville,  July  31. 

Tennessee:  Burbank,  July  17  ;  Roan  Mountain  Station,  July  17. 

Austral  and  warmest  parts  of  Transition  zones.  This  is  a  very 
widely  and  generally  distributed  species  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the 
Atlantic  and  Gulf  States;  campestral,  preferring  moist  soils  of  sandy 
loam. 

Dichfomorpha  vifidis  Scudd. 

Virginia  :  Norfolk,  Sept.  8. 

North  Carolina  :  (Greensboro,  July  10,  juv.  4,  5) ;  Raleigh,  July  8,  9,  (juv. 

3,  4,  5)  ;  Salisbury,  July  n,  (juv.  4,  5). 

South  Carolina  :  Columbia,  Aug.  16 ;  Denmark,  Aug.  14,  15. 
Georgia :  Savannah,  Aug.  13,  14,  (juv.  3,  4) ;  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  la,  13 ; 

Waycross,  Aug.  n,  (juv.  3,  4,  5) ;  West  Point,  July  30. 
Florida:  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10 ;   Marianna,  Aug.  6,  (juv.  5);   Tallahassee, 

Aug.  8  ;  Warrington,  Aug.  4. 
Alabama :  Flomaton,  Aug.  i,  2. 
Tennessee:  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24,  (juv.  5). 


32  NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E. 

Austral  zone.  A  very  plentiful  and  widely  distributed  species 
occurring  from  southern  New  England  to  the  Gulf.  In  New  Eng- 
land it  is  most  common  in  grassy  fields  on  wet  soil,  near  the  mar- 
gins of  ponds  and  streams;  in  the  South  and  the  Central  States  it  is 
more  commonly  found  in  rank  herbage  along  ditches  and  streams 
and  the  edges  of  moist  woodlands.  Its  haunts  are  thus  intermediate 
in  character  between  those  of  a  campestral  and  a  sylvan  species  and 
so  likewise  are  the  structural  adaptations  presented  by  it,  a  very 
large  proportion  of  the  females  being  brachypterous. 

Qinocephaltts  elegans  Morse. 

Virginia  :  Virginia  Beach,  Sept.  7. 

Georgia  :  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  12, 13,  (juv.)  ;  Waycross,  Aug.  n,  (juv.  3,  4,  5). 

Florida:  (De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5,  juv.  4);  (Carrabelle,  Aug.  9,  juv.s); 

Warrington,  Aug.  4,  (juv.  4). 
Alabama:  Flomaton,  Aug.  i,  (juv.  3,  4,  5). 

Austral  zones,  coastwise.  This  species  is  not  rare  in  grassy 
marshes  and  wet  spots  in  the  Coastal  Plain  at  no  great  distance 
inland. 

Chloealtis  conspersa  Harris. 

Virginia :  Wytheville.  Sept.  4,  3300  feet. 

North  Carolina  :  Balsam,  July  24,  Aug.  19,  (juv.  5),  5500  to  6000  feet. 

Transition  and  Canadian  zones.  A  very  few  examples  of  this 
boreal  species  were  taken  at  high  elevations,  amid  or  on  the  edges  of 
shrubby  growths  near  the  summit  of  Jones  Peak  and  Steestachee 
Bald  in  the  Balsam  Mountains,  and  not  far  from  the  High  Rocks  at 
Wytheville.  (See  page  22  on  "burning  over"  as  a  factor  in 
distribution.) 

Stenobothrus  curtipennis  Harris. 

North  Carolina  :  Balsam,  July  24,  4500  to  5700  feet ;  Cranberry,  Aug.  28  ; 
Grandfather  Mountain,  Aug.  29,  4500  to  5000  feet,  (juv.  5) ;  Linville, 
July  17,  18,  (juv.  5),  Aug.  30,  (juv.  5);  Roan  Mountain  July  15,  (juv. 
2,  3,  4),  Aug.  31,  Sept.  i,  (juv.  5);  Roan  Valley,  July  16,  (juv.  3,  4,  5). 

Transition  and  Canadian  zones.  This  boreal  species  is  plenti- 
ful in  the  campestral  areas  of  the  higher  mountains,  both  in  the 
valley  clearings  and  on  the  sedgy  lawns  of  Roan  Mountain,  at  an 
altitude  of  5,500  to  6,300  feet.  It  is  a  lover  of  moisture  and  its 
favorite  haunts  are  in  the  dense  and  succulent  growth  along  streams 
and  in  wet  meadows  and  moist  fields.  It  presents  the  customary 
variations  in  structure  and  color  characteristic  of  the  species  in  its 
northern  haunts. 


NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E.  33 

OEDIPODINAE. 

Arphia  santhoptera  Germ. 

Virginia :  Norfolk,  Sept.  8 ;  Roanoke,  Sept.  6  ;  Virginia  Beach,  Sept.  7  ; 

Wytheville,  Sept.  4,  (juv.  5). 

North  Carolina:  (Asheville,  July  21,  juv.  3);  (Greensboro,  July  10,  juv.  4); 
(Murphy,  Aug.  22,  juv.  5) ;  (Raleigh,  July  9,  juv.  3)  ;  (Salisbury, 
July  n,  juv.  2,  3);  (Saluda,  Aug.  17,  juv.  5);  (Topton,  Aug.  21,  3000  to 
^4000  feet,  juv.  5). 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  14,  (juv.  5). 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25,  1500 feet;  Waycross,  Aug.  u. 
Florida:  De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5;  (Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  juv.  5);    Mari- 

anna,  Aug.  7;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8,  (juv.  5). 
Alabama  :  Flomaton,  Aug.  i,  (juv.  5). 
Tennessee :  Morristown,   Aug.   27,   1400  feet ;    Roan    Mountain  Station, 

Sept.  3,  (juv.  5). 

Austral  and  Transition  zones.  Generally  distributed,  in  old 
fields,  pastures,  and  open  sprout  and  wood-lands,  preferring  dry, 
loamy  soil. 

Arphia  sulphurca  Fabr. 

Virginia :  Virginia  Beach,  July  2,  4. 

North  Carolina :  Balsam,  July  23,  24  ;  Blowing  Rock,  July  19  ;  Linville, 

July  1 8  ;  Tarboro,  July  7. 
Georgia  :  Jasper,  July  26. 

Austral  and  Transition  zones.  An  early  maturing  species 
most  plentiful  in  May  and  June,  frequenting  the  same  habitats  as 
its  congener  xanthoptera. 

Arphia  granuiata  Sauss. 

Florida  :  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10. 
lyower  Austral.     A  single  example  taken. 

Chortophaga  viridifasciata  DeG. 

Virginia:  (Appomattox,  Sept.  6,  jur.  2,  3);  Hickory,  Julys;  Norfolk, 
Sept.  8 ;  Roanoke,  Sept.  6,  (juv.  2,  3,  4) ;  Virginia  Beach,  July  2,  4, 
Sept.  7,  (juv.  3) ;  Wytheville,  Sept.  5,  (juv.  3). 

North  Carolina :  Asheville,  July  22,  (juv.  2,  4,  5) ;  Balsam,  July  23,  3500 
feet  (juv.  4)  ;  July  24,  4500  to  5700  feet ;  Aug.  ao,  (juv.  i,  2,  5)  ;  Blow- 
ing Rock,  July  19 ;  Cranberry,  July  14,  (Aug.  28,  juv.  2)  ;  Governor 
Island,  Aug.  20,  (juv.  I,  2,  3)  ;  Grandfather  Mountain,  Aug.  29,  5500 
feet ;  (Greensboro,  July  10,  juv.  4) ;  Linville,  July  18,  (juv.  i).  (Aug. 
30,  juv.  2)  ;  Morganton,- July  12,  (juv.  2,  4)  ;  Murphy,  July  25,  (juv.  2, 
4,  5),  Aug.  22,  (juv.  i,  2);  Pineola,  July  13,  14,  Aug.  28  ;  Raleigh.  July 
9,  (juv.  2)  ;  Roan  Mountain,  July  15,  16,  Aug.  31,  (juv.  i),  Sept.  I, 
5500  to  6200  feet ;  Roan  Valley,  July  16  ;  Salisbury,  July  n,  (juv.  5)  ; 
Saluda,  Aug.  17,  (juv.  2);  Selma,  July  7,  (juv.  2,  3);  Tarboro,  July  7, 
(juv.  4,  5)  ;  Topton,  Aug.  21,  2700  feet ;  Tunis,  July  5. 

South  Carolina:  (Spartanburg,  Aug.  12,  juv.  2). 


34  NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E. 

Georgia  :  Blue  Ridge,  July  25,  (juv.  3)  ;  Bolton,  July  29,  (juv.  5) ;  Jasper, 
July  26,  (juv.  2,  4) ;  Marietta,  July  27,  (juv.  3,  4,  5)  ;  Sand  Mountain, 
Aug.  25,  (juv.  2)  ;  Savannah,  Aug.  14,  (juv.  2,  4,  5) ;  Stone  Mountain, 
July  28,  (juv.  2)  ;  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  13 :  Waycross,  Aug.  n,  (juv.  I, 
2,  4i  5)  ;  West  Point,  July  30. 

Florida:  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9,  (juv.  5) ;  DeFuniak  Springs,  Aug.  5,  (juv.  2); 
Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3,  (juv.  2,  5) ;  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  (juv.  2,  5)  ; 
Marianna,  Aug.  6,  7,  (juv.  2,  5)  ;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8,  (juv.  4)  ;  War- 
rington,  Aug.  4. 

Alabama:  Flomaton,  Aug.  i,  2,  (juv.  4,  5) ;  Greenville,  July  31,  (juv.  3). 
Tennessee:  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24,  (juv.  4);   Johnson  City,  Aug.  27,  (juv. 
2,  3) ;  Lookout  Mountain,  Aug.  23,   (juv.  3,  5) ;   Morristown,  Aug.  27, 
(juv.  2,  5)  ;  Roan  Mountain  Station,  Sept.  3,  (juv.  2,  3). 
Austral,  Transition,  and  Canadian  zones.     Very  widely  and 
generally  distributed  ;   plentiful,  sometimes  abundant  locally,  in- 
habiting a  great  variety  of  environments,  chiefly  campestral,  but 
not  infrequently  found  in  open  places  in  wood-lands.     This  is  one 
of  the  most  thoroughly  disseminated  species  of  the  Eastern  States. 

Encoptolophus  sordidus  Bunn. 

Virginia :  Roanoke,  Sept.  6 ;  Wytheville,  Sept.  4,  5. 

North  Carolina  :  Linville,  Aug.  30  ;  (Pineola,  Aug.  28,  juv.  4,  5). 

Tennessee  :  Roan  Mountain  Station,  Sept.  3. 

Austral,  Transition,  and  Canadian  zones.  But  few  examples 
of  this  species,  which  is  exceedingly  common  in  the  Northern 
States,  were  secured.  These  were  taken  in  dry  upland  fields. 

Hippiscus  phoenicopterus  Germ. 

Virginia  :  Virginia  Beach,  July  2,  4. 

North  Carolina:  Eure,  July  6  ;  Greensboro,  July  10;  Morganton,  July  20; 

Raleigh,  July  8  ;  Tarboro,  July  7  ;  Tunis,  July  5. 
Georgia :  Bolton,  July  29  ;    Jasper,  July  26 ;    Sand  Mountain,  Aug.   25  ; 

Stone  Mountain,  July  28. 

Austral  zones.     I^ocally  common  in  dry  fields  and  pastures. 
Hippisc«S  sp.  indet. 

Immature  specimens  of  a   species  of  this  genus  of  uncertain 
identity  were  secured  as  follows : 

Tennessee:  (Morristown,  Aug.  27.  juv.  2,  3);  (Roan  Mountain  Station, 
Sept.  3,  juv.  2). 

Hippiscus  t wgosos  Scudd. 

Virginia:  (Cape  Henry,  July  2,  juv.  3);  (Hickory,  July  3,  juv.  4); 
Roanoke,  Sept.  6;  Virginia  Beach,  (July  4,  juv.  3),  Sept.  7;  Wythe- 
ville, Sept  4,  5. 

North  Carolina :  (Asheville,  July  22,  juv.  3,  4,  5)  ;  (Eure,  July  5,  juv.  3) ; 
Governor  Island,  Aug.  20 ;  (Greensboro,  July  8,  9,  juv.  3,  4) ;  (Selma, 
July  7,  juv.  4,  5) ;  (Tarboro,  July  6,  juv.  3) ;  (Tunis,  July  5,  juv.  3,  4). 


NORTH   AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E.  35 

South  Carolina :  Denmark,  Aug.  15  ;  (Spartanburg,  Aug.  17,  juv.  5). 
Georgia :  Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25  ;    (Stone  Mountain,  July  28,  juv.  4)  ; 

West  Point,  July  30,  (juv.  3,  4,  5). 
Florida :  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  (juv.  4,  5). 
Alabama:  Greenville,  July  31,  (juv.  3,  4,  5). 
Tennessee :  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24,  (juv.  5) ;  Johnson  City,  Aug.  27 ;  Mor- 

ristown,  Aug.  27  ;  Roan  Mountain  Station,  Sept  3. 

Austral  and  Transition  zones.  A  widely  distributed  and  locally 
common  species  on  old  fields  of  sandy  loam.  There  is  much  varia- 
tion in  wing  coloring  individually. 

Dissostcir a  Carolina  Linn. 

Virginia :  Hickory,  July  3  ;  Norfolk,  Sept.  8  ;  Roanoke,  Sept.  6 ;  Virginia 
Beach,  July  2  ;  Wytheville,  Sept.  4. 

North  Carolina :  Asheville,  July  22,  (juv.  5) ;  Balsam,  July  23,  (juv.  5) ; 
Aug.  19,  (juv.  5)  ;  Blowing  Rock,  July  19,  (juv.  5) ;  (Cranberry,  Aug.  28, 
juv.  5)  ;  (Eure,  July  5,  juv.  5) ;  Grandfather  Mountain,  Aug.  29,  5000 
feet,  (juv.  5) ;  Greensboro,  July  10,  (juv.  5) ;  Linville,  Aug.  30 ;  Mor- 
ganton,  July  12,  (juv.  4),  July  20  ;  Murphy,  July  25,  Aug.  22  ;  Raleigh, 
July  9,  (juv.  4)  ;  Salisbury,  July  n  ;  Selma,  July  6  ;  Topton,  Aug.  20, 
3000  feet ;  Tunis,  July  5. 

South  Carolina:  Columbia,  Aug.  16;  Spartanburg,  Aug.  16. 

Georgia :  Blue  Ridge,  July  25  ;  Jasper,  July  26  ;  Marietta,  July  27  ;  Sand 
Mountain,  Aug.  25  ;  Savannah,  Aug.  13,  (juv.  5). 

Florida:  Marianna,  Aug.  6,  (juv.  4). 

Alabama:  Flomaton,  Aug.  i,  (juv.  5). 

Tennessee:  Burbank,  July  17,  (juv.  5)  ;  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24,  (juv.  5)  ; 
Lookout  Mountain,  Aug.  23,  (juv.  5). 

Austral  and  Transition  zones.  A  very  common  species,  very 
widely  and  generally  distributed  in  sandy  fields,  roads,  river- 
washes,  etc. 

Sphatagemon  collate  wyomingianum  Thom. 
North  Carolina  :  Eure,  July  5  ;  Tarboro,  July  6,  7. 
Austral  zone.     A  half  dozen  examples  of  this  species  were 
obtained  in  old  fields  of  sandy  loam  scantily  clothed  with  xerophi- 
lous  grasses  and  weeds. 

Sphar agemon  bolli  Scudd. 

Virginia :  Roanoke,  Sept.  6 ;  (Virginia  Beach,  July  4,  juv.  5) ;  Wythe- 
ville, Sept.  4,  5. 

North  Carolina:  Asheville,  July  21,  22,  (juv.  5) ;  Balsam,  July  22,  33,  3500 
feet ;  Murphy,  July  25,  Aug.  22,  (juv.  5)  ;  Pineola,  Aug.  28 ;  Saluda, 
Aug.  17  ;  Topton,  Aug.  21,  3000  to  4000  feet  (juv.  5). 

South  Carolina:  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 

Georgia :  Blue  Ridge,  July  25  ;  Jasper,  July  26  ;  Marietta,  July  27  ;  Sand 
Mountain,  Aug.  25. 


36  NORTH   AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E. 

Florida  :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9 ;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8. 

Tennessee  :  Johnson  City,  Aug.  27  ;  Lookout  Mountain,  Aug.  23  ;  Morris- 
town,  Aug.  27  ;  Roan  Mountain  Station,  Sept.  3. 

Austral   and  Transition  zones.     A  common  and  very  widely 
distributed  species,  in  old  fields,  pastures,  and  open  wood-lands  on 
dry  soil. 
Spharagemon  saxatile  planum  Morse. 

Spharagemon  saxatile  planum.    Psyche,  XI,  13  (1904). 

' '  Differing  noticeably  from  the  specific  type  in  the  structure  of 
the  pronotum,  the  midcarina,  although  of  the  same  general  form 
and  profile,  being  lower  throughout,  and  the  disk  of  the  metazone 
more  nearly  and  constantly  plane,  instead  of  arched  in  longisection 
as  is  commonly  the  case  in  the  type,  especially  in  the  female.  Hind 
tibiae  with  an  increased  amount  of  infuscation  distad  of  the  pale 
basal  annulus,  in  this  respect  sometimes  approaching  belli  in  degree. 
The  general  color  of  the  specimens  at  hand  is  a  purplish  red  in  con- 
sonance with  the  tint  of  the  soil  of  the  habitat  ;  the  pale  X  mark  of 
the  pronotal  disk  is  lacking,  and  even  the  transverse  fuscous  bands 
of  the  tegmina  are  indistinct." 

Virginia  :  Wytheville,  Sept.  4,  5,  2300  feet. 

Transition  zone.  The  specific  type  saxatile  is  a  characteristic 
rock-inhabiting  locust  of  the  Northeastern  States,  very  rarely  being 
found  away  from  ledges.  The  form  here  described  was  plentiful 
locally  on  a  thinly  grassed,  gravelly  hill-slope,  accompanied  by  its 
congener  belli,  and  exactly  matching  in  coloration  the  purplish  red, 
iron-bearing  fragments  of  rock  and  soil  on  which  it  made  its  home. 
The  difference  in  coloration  from  saxatile  of  the  Northern  States  is 
very  great,  the  latter  being  deep  blackish-fuscous,  marbled  with  gray 
and  white. 

Mestobregma  thomasi  Caudell. 

Georgia  :  Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25  ;  Trenton,  Aug.  25. 

Tennessee:  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24. 

Upper  Austral  zone  of  Central  States.  This  species  was  found 
locally  common  in  sandy  fields  near  Chattanooga,  and  was  also 
taken  on  rocky  ledges  at  Trenton  and  near  Flat  Rock  on  Sand 
Mountain  plateau,  its  coloration  varying  according  to  its  environ- 
ment from  nearly  black  to  ashen  or  dust-color.  It  flies  freely  on  a 
warm  day,  but  weakly,  and  is  easily  captured. 

Scirtetica  picta  Scudd. 

North  Carolina  :  Eure,  July  6. 

Florida  :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9 ;    Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3,    (juv.  4,  5)  ;  Live 
Oak,  Aug.  10,  (juv.  5) ;  Warrington,  Aug.  4. 


NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^J.  37 

t 

Lower  Austral,  coastwise.  This  is  a  striking  and  beautiful 
species,  common  in  Florida,  especially  on  the  strand,  where  it  is 
associated  with  Psinldia  fenestralis  and  Trimerotropis  citrina.  (See 
PI .  4,  Fig.  i ;  PI.  5 ,  Fig.  i )  The  examples  from  North  Carolina  are  so 
exactly  intermediate  in  character  between  this  species  and  its  northern 
relative  marmorata  as  to  suggest  the  possibility  that  the  two  forms 
are  but  geographic  races  of  the  same  species.  Series  of  specimens 
from  intermediate  points  are  needed  to  determine  the  relation  of 
these  two  forms. 

Psinidia  fenestr alls  Serv. 

Virginia:  Cape  Henry,  Sept.  7,  (juv.  4)  ;  (Virginia  Beach,  July  2,  juv.  3). 
North  Carolina:  Eure,  July  6,  (juv.  4,  5) ;  Tarboro,  July  7. 
Georgia:  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  12,  13,  (juv.  3,  5). 

Florida :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9,  (juv.  4) ;  Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3,  (juv.  4) ; 
Live  Oak,  Aug.  10  ;  Warrington,  Aug.  4. 

Austral  and  Transition  zones.  Widely  distributed  ;  locally 
common  in  the  Atlantic  States  on  large  or  small  bare  sandy  areas. 

Ttimerotfopis  saxatilis  McNeill. 

Georgia :  Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25,  near  White  Oak  Gap  and  Flat  Rock ; 
Stone  Mountain,  July  28. 

Upper  Austral  zone.  This  is  a  very  local  species  which  was 
met  with  but  twice.  It  frequents  the  weathered  surfaces  of  rocky 
ledges,  which  it  exactly  matches  in  coloration  when  at  rest,  closely 
resembling  Circotettix  verruculatus  of  the  north  in  color  and  habits, 
but  being  smaller  in  size,  and  with  a  relatively  very  weak  stridu- 
lation.  (See  PI.  2,  Figs,  i,  2,  and  pages  14,  15.) 

Tfimerotfopis  maritima  Harris. 

Virginia:'  Cape  Henry,  July  2,  4,  Sept.  7,  (juv.  3,  5) ;  Virginia  Beach, 
July  2,  (juv.  5). 

Maritime  ;  coastwise  from  Maine  to  North  Carolina,  and  about 
the  Great  Lakes.  (See  the  next  species.) 

Tfimerotropis  citrina  Scudd. 

Virginia  :  Cape  Henry,  July  2,  4,  Sept.  7  ;  Virginia  Beach,  July  2,  4. 
North  Carolina  :  Governor  Island,  Aug.  20  ;  Greensboro,  July  10  ;  Mor- 

ganton,  July  20,    (juv.   5)  ;   Murphy,  Aug.  22  ;   Salisbury,   July  n  ; 

Selma,  July  7  ;  Tarboro,  July  7,  (juv.  4)  ;  Tunis,  July  5. 
South  Carolina:  Columbia,  Aug.  16,  (juv.  5). 
Georgia  :  Marietta,  July  27  ;  Stone  Mountain,  July  28  ;  Tybee  Island,  Aug. 

12,  13,  (juv.  2). 
Florida  :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9,  (juv.  4,  5)  ;  Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3,  (juv.  4,  5); 

Marianna,  Aug.  7  ;  Warrington,  Aug.  4. 
Alabama  :  Flomaton,  Aug.  i  ;  Greenville,  July  31. 
Tennessee  :  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24. 


38  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E. 

Austral  zones.  A  characteristic  xerophilous  species  widely 
and  generally  distributed  throughout  the  Southeastern  States. 
Along  the  seaboard  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  it  meets, 
mingles  with,  and  apparently  hybridizes  with  its  northern  con- 
gener, T.  maritima.  (See  PI.  3,  Figs,  i,  2;  PI.  4,  Figs,  i,  2;  PI.  5, 
Fig.  i,  for  illustrations  of  habitats,  and  pages  15  and  22  for  further 
remarks  on  these  two  species.) 

AOUDHNAE. 

Dictyophortts  reticulatus  Thunb. 

South  Carolina:  (Denmark,  Aug.  15,  juv.). 
Georgia:  (Waycross,  Aug.  n,  juv.). 
Florida  :  (De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5,  juv.). 

I^ower  Austral  zone.  A  few  young  nymphs  which  I  refer  to 
this  species  with  some  doubt  were  obtained  while  sweeping  at  the 
localities  named. 

Arnilia  chlorizans  Walk. 

Georgia:  Waycross,  Aug.  n. 

Lower  Austral  zone.  A  single  specimen,  in  company  with 
Leptysma  marginicollis,  q.  v. 

Lcptysma  margimcollis  Serv. 

Virginia:  Cape  Henry,  July  2,  (juv.  2,  3,  4,  5),  Sept  7,  (juv.  4.  5). 

North  Carolina  :  (Raleigh,  July  9,  juv.  2). 

South  Carolina:  (Denmark,  Aug.  15,  juv.  3,  4). 

Georgia:  (Savannah,  Aug.  14,  juv.  4);  (Stone  Mountain,  July  28,  juv.  i, 
2»  3)  5  (Waycross,  Aug.  n,  juv.  4). 

Florida:  (Carrabelle,  Aug.  9,  juv.  4,  5)  ;  (Warrington,  Aug.  4,  juv.  3). 
Austral  zones.     Locally  common   in  the  coarse,  erect  growth 
of  rushes,  sedges,  etc.,  bordering  the  shores  of  fresh- water  ponds, 
pools,  and  streams.     Probably  hibernates  in  the  adult  stage. 

Schistocerca  americana  Drury. 

Adult  specimens  only  of  this  genus  have  been  identified  ;  the 
data  given  below  are  limited  to  these. 

Virginia:  Hickory,  July  3  ;  Virginia  Beach,  July  2,  Sept  7. 
North  Carolina :  Asheville,  July  22 ;  Governor  Island,   Aug.  20 ;  Greens- 
boro, July  10  ;  Raleigh,  July  9  ;  Roan  Mountain,  July  15,  Sept.  a,  5800 
to  6300  feet ;  Salisbury,  July  1 1 ;  Tarboro,  July  6,  7. 
South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 
Georgia :  Bolton,  July  29  ;  Marietta,  July  27  ;  Savannah,  Aug.  14 ;  Tybee 

Island,  Aug.  12,  13;  Waycross,  Aug.  n. 
Florida  :  Marianna,  Aug.  6 ;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8. 
Alabama:  Flomaton,  Aug.  2. 
Tennessee :  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24 ;  Morristown,  Aug.  27. 


NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E.  39 

Austral  zones,  but  owing  to  its  powerful  flight  of  common 
occurrence  also  in  southern  parts  of  Transition  and  Canadian  zones. 
Generally  distributed  from  sea-beach  to  summits  of  highest  moun- 
tains, frequenting  a  great  variety  of  habitats.  Most  plentiful  in  tall 
growths  of  weeds  and  bushes,  but  found  in  injurious  numbers  only 
in  vicinity  of  Chattanooga  in  rank  growth  of  bottom-land. 

Schistocetca  alutacea  Harr. 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 

Georgia:  Savannah,  Aug.  14  ;  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  12,  13. 

Florida  :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9  ;  Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3. 

Austral  zones,  including  southern  New  England.  Widely  dis- 
tributed, but  local.  A  common  inhabitant  of  the  rank  mixed  growth 
of  grassy  swamps. 

Schistocerca  tubigfinosa  Scudd. 

Virginia  :  Cape  Henry,  Sept.  7  ;  Virginia  Beach,  Sept.  7. 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 

Georgia  :  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  12,  13. 

Florida :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9 ;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8. 

Austral  and  Transition  zones.  Widely  but  locally  distributed; 
sometimes  associated  with  S.  alutacea,  but  typically  found  in  drier 
haunts.  There  is  considerable  variation  in  this  species  in  color  and 
markings  in  the  direction  of  alutacea.  Possibly  hybrids  occur,  but 
typically  these  two  species  differ  in  color,  structure,  and  haunts. 

Schistocerca  damnifica  Sauss. 

Virginia  :  Virginia  Beach,  Sept.  7. 
North  Carolina  :  Tarboro,  July  7. 
Austral  zones.     But  two  adults  of  this  species  were  seen. 

Gymnosciftetes  pusillus  Scudd. 

Georgia:  Waycross,  Aug.  IT,  (juv.). 
Florida  :  De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5. 

Lower  Austral  zone.  This  peculiar  species  was  found  locally 
abundant  at  Waycross  in  the  open  lower,  marshy  portions  of  the 
pine  barrens,  inhabiting  a  matted  growth  made  up  of  pipewort, 
sedge,  and  juncus  stems.  A  single  specimen  taken  at  De  Funiak 
Springs  was  found  in  a  similar  growth  in  a  springy  run.  At  both 
places  it  was  accompanied  by  Aptenopedes  sphenarioides.  (See  PI.  5, 
Fig.  2). 


40  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIIDJE. 

Eotettix:  palostris  Morse. 

Eotettix  palustris.    Psyche,  XI,  7  (i9°4)- 

"Intermediate  in  size  and  appearance  between  signatus  and 
pusillus.  Facial  costa  widest  opposite  base  of  antennae,  equalling 
interspace  between  eyes,  with  convex  sides  convergent  above  and 
below,  subparallel  in  lowest  portion.  Tegmina  broadly  oval  with 
rounded  apex,  shorter  than  pronotum.  Abdomen  of  male  less  up- 
turned at  tip  than  in  pusillus ;  furcula  well-developed,  flattened  or 
digitate;  supra-anal  plate  triangular,  its  breadth  nearly  or  quite 
equaling  its  length,  the  apex  rounded,  acute.  Cerci  conical, 
slender,  tapering  evenly,  about  three  times  as  long  as  their  basal 
width. 

"  Color  light  yellowish  green,  brown  above  and  on  tegmina, 
with  fuscous  post-ocular  stripes  from  eyes  to  tegmina.  Hind  tibiae 
red  with  black  spines.  This  species  and  signatus  agree  in  lacking 
the  fuscous  markings  on  the  abdomen  characteristic  of  pusillus,  and 
in  possessing  red  hind  tibiae.  In  signatus  the  apex  of  the  supra- 
anal  plate  is  usually  very  bluntly  rounded,  and  the  tegmina  are  as 
long  or  longer  than  the  pronotum,  broad  lanceolate,  with  acute  apex. 

"Length  of  body  :  male,  15-15.5  ;  female,  21.5  ;  hind  femora  : 
male,  10;    female,    14;    antenna:    male,  8;    female,  9;    tegmina: 
male,  2X3.5  to  2.8X4  I  female,  3.5X5  mm." 
Florida  :  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10. 

Lower  Austral.  This  agile  little  species  was  found  in  the 
scrubby  undergrowth  of  palmettoes  and  bushes  in  the  damper  spots 
of  the  piney  woods. 

Eotettix    plttilltts  Morse. 

Eotettix  pusillus.    Psyche,  XI,  7  (1904). 

"A  diminutive  species  readily  distinguished  from  signatus  by 
its  size  and  nearly  circular  tegmina.  Facial  costa  widest  between 
antennae,  nearly  equalling  interspace  between  eyes,  with  parallel 
sides,  abruptly  narrowed  below  the  median  ocellus  to  two-thirds  of 
its  width  above.  Disk  of  pronotum  tectiform,  distinctly  convex  in 
longisection,  the  mid-carina  very  pronounced,  the  lateral  carinae 
faintly  indicated  on  the  prozone,  obsolete  on  metazone.  Tegmina 
broadly  obovate  or  sub-circular,  two-thirds  or  three-fourths  as  long 
as  the  pronotum.  Tip  of  male  abdomen  upturned,  supra-anal  plate 
triangular,  nearly  or  quite  as  broad  as  long,  pointed  at  apex,  with 
sinuous  sides.  Furcula  well  developed,  consisting  of  two  broad 
flattened  lobes  as  long  as  or  longer  than  the  last  dorsal  segment. 
Cerci  subconic,  shorter  than  supra-anal  plate,  two  to  three  times 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^B.  41 

as  long  as  the  width  of  base ;  acuminate,  stout  at  base,  tapering  to 
a  slender  tip. 

"  General  color  pale  yellowish  green,  dorsum  and  tegmina  dull 
yellowish  brown.  Lateral  stripes  on  the  sides  of  the  prozone,  more 
or  less  of  the  bases  of  the  abdominal  segments  and  genicular  lobes 
of  the  hind  femora,  apex  of  hind  tibiae,  tibial  spines  and  tarsal 
claws,  black.  Hind  tibiae  colored  like  the  body. 

"Length  of  body:    male,  10-12;   female,  16-17;   nin<i  femora: 
male,   7.5-8;   female,    9.5-11;   antenna:    male   and    female,   8-8.5; 
tegmina:  male,  1.7X2  to  2  X  2.5;  female,  3X3.5  to  3.3X4  mm." 
South  Carolina:  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 
Georgia:  Waycross,  Aug.  n. 

Lower  Austral.  (See  note  on  habitat  under  Gymnostirtctes 
pusillus. ) 

Hesperotettix  floridensis  Morse. 
Georgia:  Waycross,  Aug.  n. 
Lower  Austral.     A  single  female  only  was  obtained. 

Hesperotettix  brevipennis  Thom. 

Georgia:  Sand  Mountain,  near  Flat  Rock,  Aug.  25. 

Upper  Austral  (?)  zone.  This  species  is  known  only  from 
eastern  Massachusetts,  New  Jersey,  and  Georgia.  It  is  exceedingly 
local.  In  Massachusetts  it  is  found  on  bunch-grass  (Andropogon 
scoparius))  in  New  Jersey  it  is  reported  from  cranberry  bogs.  A 
single  pair  were  taken  on  the  Sand  Mountain  plateau  on  bunch- 
grass  in  open  deciduous  woods. 

Hesperotettix  pratensis  Scudd. 

Florida  :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9  ;  Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3  ;  Warrington,  Aug.  4. 
Austral  zones,  from  Florida  and  Indiana  westward.     (See  page 
1 6  for  remarks  on  the  habitat  of  this  species,  and  PI.  5,  Fig.  i.) 
Podisma  glacialis  variegata  Scudd. 

Podisma  variegata  Scudd.    Rev.  Mel.,  97,  101. 

Podisma  glacialis  variegata.    Walker,  Can.  Ent.,  Nov.,  1903. 

North  Carolina  :  (Balsam,  Aug.  19,  Jones  Peak,  5800  feet.,  juv.)  ;  Grand- 
father Mountain,  Aug.  29 ;  (Pineola,  July  14,  juv.)  ;  Roan  Mountain, 
Sept.  i. 

Canadian  and  colder  part  of  Transition  zones.  This  locust 
seems  to  be  rather  widely  distributed  in  the  higher  parts  of  the 
North  Carolina  mountains,  inhabiting  shrubby  undergrowth  and 
thickets  of  weeds  and  bushes  throughout  the  mountains.  (PI.  i, 
Figs,  i,  2.)  It  is  a  sluggish  and  secretive  species  and  but  few 
examples  were  observed.  It  should  be  looked  for  on  the  Virginia 
mountains  above  an  altitude  of  3,000  feet. 


42  NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^. 

MELANOPLUS. 

In  this  extensive  genus  I  have  not  attempted  to  determine  the 
immature  specimens  save  in  a  few  cases ;  the  records  here  given 
refer  to  adults.  For  convenience  of  treatment  in  this  place  I  have 
divided  the  genus  primarily  into  two  series — long-winged  and  short- 
winged  species.  The  species  are  arranged,  in  the  main,  according 
to  the  sequence  of  Scudder's  Revision  of  the  Melanopli. 

It  is  a  significant  fact  in  its  bearing  on  distribution  that  but 
one  of  the  long- winged  species  captured  was  undescribed,  while  no 
less  than  eleven  short-winged  species  of  this  and  two  of  the  allied 
genus  Eotettix  proved  to  be  new.  This  fact  indicates  the  local 
distribution,  secretive  habits,  and  less  explored  haunts  of  the 
short-winged  species. 

A.    LONG-WINGED  SERIES. 
Melanoplus  atlanis  Riley. 

Virginia  :  Appomattox,  Sept.  6  ;  Cape  Henry,  July  2  ;  Hickory,  July  3  . 

Norfolk,  Sept.  8  ;  Roanoke,  Sept.  6 ;  Virginia  Beach,  July  a,  Sept.  7 ; 

Wytheville,  Sept.  4. 
North  Carolina:  Asheville.  July  22;  Balsam,  July  23,  24,  Aug.  20,  3000 

to  5700  feet ;  Blowing  Rock,  July  19 ;  Cranberry,  July  14 ;  Governor 

Island,  Aug.  20 ;  Grandfather  Mountain,  Aug.  29 ;  Greensboro,  July 

10  ;  Linville,  July  17,  Aug.  30  ;  Morganton,  July  12,  20  ;  Murphy,  Aug. 

22;  Pineola,  July  13,  14,  Aug.  28;  Raleigh,  July  9;  Roan  Mountain, 

July  16,  Aug.  31,  Sept.  i,  6200  feet,  (juv.)  ;   Roan  Valley,  July  16 ; 

Salisbury,  July  n  ;  Saluda,  Aug.  17 ;  Selma,  July  7  ;  Tarboro,  July  6  ; 

Tunis,  July  5. 

South  Carolina  :  Columbia,  Aug.  16 ;  Spartanburg,  Aug.  16. 
Georgia :  Bolton,    July  29 ;  Jasper,  July  25  ;    Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25 ; 

Stone  Mountain,  July  28  ;  West  Point,  July  30. 
Florida  :  Marianna,  Aug.  6. 
Alabama :  Flomaton,  Aug.  2. 
Tennessee:  Burbank,  July  17  ;  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24 ;  Johnson  City,  Aug. 

27  ;  Lookout  Mountain,  Aug.  23  ;  Morristown,  Aug.  27. 

Austral,  Transition,  and  Canadian  zones,  from  Atlantic  to 
Pacific.  This  locust  is  probably  the  most  widely  and  generally 
distributed  of  all  inhabiting  the  Southeastern  States,  breeding  from 
sea-level  to  the  summit  of  Roan  Mountain.  While  most  at  home  in 
dry,  grassy  fields,  it  is  likely  to  be  found  anywhere.  It  was  abun- 
dant at  I^inville,  as  previously  noted,  and  threatens  serious  damage 
in  that  locality  if  it  continues  to  increase.  Elsewhere  it  was  not 
plentiful  though  probably  occurring  in  nearly  all  of  the  localities 
visited. 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E.  43 

Melanoplus  impodicos  Scudd. 

North  Carolina  :  Murphy,  July  25. 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15  ;  Spartanburg,  Aug.  16. 

Georgia :    Blue  Ridge,  July  25  ;  Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25. 

Austral  zones.  A  widely  distributed  but  apparently  local 
species  ranging  in  the  austral  zones  from  New  Jersey  on  the  Atlantic 
slope  southward,  through  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  northward 
into  Indiana.  The  specimens  taken  were  found  in  dry,  grassy 
fields,  an  environment  very  similar  to  that  preferred  by  atlanis. 
Melanoplus  femur-rubfum  DeG. 

Virginia :  Appomattox,  Sept.  6  ;   Norfolk,    Sept.  8 ;    Roanoke,   Sept.  6 ; 

Virginia  Beach,  Sept.  7  ;  Wytheville,  Sept.  4. 

North  Carolina :  Cranberry,  Aug.  28  ;  Governor  Island,  Aug.  20 ;  Grand- 
father Mountain,  Aug.  29  ;  Linville,  Aug.  30;  Roan  Mountain,  Sept.  i; 
Topton,  Aug.  21,  3000  feet. 
Georgia:  Sand    Mountain,   Aug.    25;    Stone  Mountain,   July   28;    West 

Point,  July  30. 

Alabama  :  Flomaton,  Aug.  2. 

Tennessee:  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24;   Johnson  City,  Aug.  27;  Morristown, 
Aug.  27  ;  Roan  Mountain  Station,  Sept.  3. 

Lower  Austral  in  part,  Upper  Austral,  Transition,  and  Canadian 
zones,  in  humid  campestral  stations.  This  species  is  much  less 
plentiful  and  less  generally  distributed  as  a  whole  in  the  Southern 
than  in  the  Northern  States,  and  in  the  Gulf  strip  of  the  Lower 
Austral  gives  place  to  the  next  species,  propinquus.  The  Flomaton 
specimens  are  intermediate  between  the  two  species  in  length  of 
furcula  and  form  of  cerci,  though  perhaps  more  closely  approaching 
femur-rubrum.  The  largest  examples  of  this  species  which  I  have 
ever  seen  are  those  obtained  at  Norfolk. 

Melanoplus  propinquus  Scudd. 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 
Georgia:  Savannah,  Aug.  14  ;  Tybee  Island,  Aug  12,  13. 
Florida  :  De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5  ;  Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3  ;  Live  Oak, 
Aug.  10  ;  Marianna,  Aug.  6 ;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8;  Warrington,  Aug.  4. 

Lower  Austral  zone,  Gulf  Strip.  Campestral,  in  grassy  fields, 
meadows,  and  swamps. 

Melanoplus  luridus  Dodge. 

Virginia  :  Roanoke,  Sept.  6  ;  Wytheville,  Sept.  4,  5- 

North  Carolina :  Linville,  Aug.  30 ;  Murphy,  Aug.  22  ;  Pineola,  Aug.  28  ; 

Roan  Mountain,  Sept.  i,  5000  to  5500  feet ;  Saluda,  Aug.  17  ;  Topton, 

Aug.  21,  3000  to  4000  feet ; 
Georgia  :  Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25. 
Tennessee:  Chattanooga,    Aug.    24;    Johnson   City,   Aug.    27;    Lookout 

Mountain,  Aug.  23. 


44  NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E. 

Upper  Austral  and  Transition  zones.  This  species  is  most 
plentiful  in  or  near  sylvan  habitats,  being  found  usually  in  or  on 
the  borders  of  dry,  open  woodlands,  groves,  and  thickets.  It  is 
an  expert  leaper,  using  its  legs  as  a  means  of  escaping  its  enemies 
quite  as  freely  as  its  wings,  though  flying  freely  on  occasion.  It  is 
interesting  to  note,  in  this  connection,  that  its  wings  are  distinctly 
abbreviated  as  compared  with  those  of  purely  campestrian  species 
such  as  femur-rubrum  and  atlanis. 
Melanoplus  deleter  Scudd. 

South  Carolina:  Denmark,  Aug.  14,  15. 

Lower  Austral  zone.  Locally  common  in  shrubbery  among 
pines  near  swampy  ground. 

Melanoplus  diffetentialis  Uhler. 

Tennessee:  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24. 

Austral  zones,  almost  exclusively  west  of  the  Appalachians. 
This  species  was  found  in  considerable  numbers  in  the  rank  vegeta- 
tion of  the  bottom-land  along  a  creek,  where  it  was  accompanied  by 
Dichromorpha  viridis,  Tryxalis  dremcornis,  and  Schistocerca  americana. 

Melanoplus  symmetricus  Morse. 

Melanoplus  symmetric-its.    Psyche,  xi,  8  (1904). 

"  A  long-winged  species  allied  to  robustus.  Furcula  wanting. 
Cerci  stout  at  base,  laminate  and  a  little  incurved  at  tip,  broad, 
nearly  symmetrical,  the  basal  half  or  three-fifths  a  little  longer  than 
wide,  with  subequal,  subparallel  sides  ;  the  distal  half  or  two-fifths 
broadened  equally  above  and  below  into  a  transverse  plate  with 
axis  perpendicular  to  that  of  the  stem,  its  length  one  and  two-thirds 
times  the  width  of  the  stem,  the  apex  smoothly  convex  (sometimes 
sinuous  through  extension  of  lower  angle  of  lobe),  the  proximal 
sides  straight  and  leaving  the  stem  at  an  angle  of  30°  or  40°,  the 
dorsal  portion  of  the  plate  slightly  broader  and  its  angle  more 
rounded  than  the  lower. 

"  General  color  brownish  testaceous  ;  hind  tibiae  red  with 
black  spines.  Hind  femora  stout,  flavous  on  outer  lower  face,  coral 
red  within  on  basal  two-thirds,  often  showing  indications  of  oblique 
fuscous  fasciae. 

"  Length  of  body  :  male,  28-30  ;  female,  31-34.5;  hind  femora: 
male,  16-18;  female,  19-20;  antenna:  male,  13.5-14.5;  female, 
11-14;  tegmina :  male,  20-22;  female,  21-23;  vertex  to  tip  of 
tegmina:  male,  30-31.5  ;  female,  30.5-33.5  mm." 

(See  Fig.  10,  p.  46 — drawing  of  male  cercus.) 
Florida :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9. 


NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E.  45 

Gulf  strip  of  Lower  Austral,  coastwise.  The  type  specimens 
were  secured  in  a  grassy  swamp  not  far  from  the  beach  (see  PI.  6 
Fig.  2)  and  were  associated  with  Paroxya  atlantica  andjlondiana  and 
Schistocerca  alutacea.  It  is  a  campestral  species  resembling  femoratus 
in  size,  appearance,  and  haunts,  save  for  some  minor  differences 
in  coloring. 

Melanoplus  femoratus  Burm. 

Virginia :  Appomattox,  Sept.  6  ;  Virginia  Beach,  July  4. 

North  Carolina  :  Asheville,  July  22  ;  Balsam,  Aug.  20,  3000  to  4000  feet ; 

Murphy,  July  25  ;  Salisbury,  July  n  ;  Topton,  Aug.  21,  2800  feet. 
Georgia  :  Blue  Ridge,  July  25  ;  Sand  Mountain,  Aug.  25. 

Upper  Austral  and  Transition  zones.  A  campestral  species 
frequenting  the  rank  grass  and  herbage  in  swamps  and  along 
streams. 

B.    SHORT-WINGED  SERIES. 
Melanoplus  scudderi  Uhler. 

Virginia  :  Roanoke,  Sept.  6  ;  Virginia  Beach,  Sept.  7  ;  Wytheville,  Sept.  4. 

Georgia:  Trenton,  Aug.  25. 

North  Carolina  :  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24 ;  Morristown,  Aug.  27. 

Austral  and  Transition  zones.  Widely  distributed  but  local. 
Sylvan  in  habitat,  frequenting  borders  of  woodlands,  thickets,  and 
tangles  on  rather  dry  soil. 

Melanoplus  camegiei  Morse. 

Melanoplus  carnegiei.    Psyche,  XI,  10  (1904). 

"  A  short-winged  species  related  to  and  resembling  scudderi  but 
with  the  cerci  shorter,  about  as  long  as  their  basal  breadth,  equalling 
three-fifths  of  the  supra-anal  plate,  triangular,  acutely  pointed,  the 
sides  straight  or  a  little  sinuous  by  reason  of  convexity  of  base ; 
the  ventral  margin  is  usually  the  longer,  but  sometimes  the  sides 
and  base  are  subequal  ;  thick  at  base,  tapering  evenly  to  the  not  at 
all  incurved  apex.  Subgenital  plate  scoop-shaped,  the  end  pointed, 
the  apex  rounded  or  slightly  truncate.  Furcula  minute,  barely 
discernible,  scarcely  half  as  long  as  last  segment.  Supra-anal  plate 
triangular,  longer  than  wide,  pointed,  the  sides  convex. 

"Pronotum  resembling  that  of  scudderi  but  scarcely  as  wide 
posteriorly  ;  prosternal  spine  very  variable,  sometimes  cylindrical 
and  bluntly  pointed,  more  usually  flattened  antero-posteriorly,  apex 
broad  and  bluntly  rounded  or  acute  with  straight  sides.  Tegmina 
shorter  than  in  scudderi,  nearly  as  long  as  pronotum,  broad  lanceo- 
late with  rounded  apex,  attingent  or  slightly  overlapping. 

"  Color  and  markings  as  in  scudderi,  the  hind  tibiae  red. 

"Length  of  body  :  male,  14-17.5  ;  female,  23-24  ;  hind  femora  : 


46 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^. 


male,    10-12,   female,    13.5-14.5;    antenna:    male,   7-8.5;   female, 
8.5-10  ;  tegmina  :  male,  2.5  X  4,  3  X  4.5  ;  female,  3.5  X  6  mm." 
(See  Fig.  4 — drawing  of  male  cercus.) 

South  Carolina :  Denmark,  Aug.  15 ;  Spartanburg,  Aug.  16. 
Georgia:  Blue  Ridge,  July  25. 

Austral  zones.    Sylvan  in  habitat,  occurring  in  the  undergrowth 
in  pine  woods. 


FIGS.  2-10,  Cerci  of  Melanoplus,  male :  2,  M.  sylvestris;  3,  M.  celatus;  4,  M.  carnegiei; 
5,  M.  diver  gens ;  6,  M,  similis ;  7,  M.  tributes;  8,  M.  devius ;  9,  M.  deceptus;  10,  M.  sym- 
metricus.  (Magnified  16  diameters). 


Melanoplos  celatus  Morse. 

Melanoplus  celatus.    Psyche,  XI,  10  (1904). 

1 '  Closely  related  to  M.  islandicus,  agreeing  with  it  in  size, 
coloration,  markings  and  form  with  the  following  exceptions  : 

1 '  Cerci  of  male  similar  to  those  of  islandicus,  stout  at  base, 
tapering  equally,  or  more  rapidly  in  basal  portion,  to  a  slender, 
flattened  tip,  once  and  a  half  or  twice  as  long  as  width  of  base, 
symmetrical,  the  tip  not  bent  upward  nor  grooved  externally  as 
usual  in  islandicus.  Subgenital  plate  averaging  shorter  on  the 
dorsal  margin  than  in  islandiciis.  Prosternal  spine  conic  or  cylindro- 
conic,  the  apex  blunt,  well-rounded, — in  islandicus  subpyramidal, 
acutely  pointed,  the  sides  flattened." 

(See  Fig.  3 — drawing  of  male  cercus.) 

Virginia  :  Wytheville,  Sept.  4,  5,  3000  to  3500  feet. 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E.  47 

Transition  zone.  Sylvan,  in  shrubby  growth  among  pines  on 
dry,  stony  soil.  The  types  were  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  the  High 
Rocks. 

Melanoplus  sylvestfis  Morse. 

Melanoplus  sylvestris.    Psyche,  XI,  10  (1904). 

"This  species  also  is  a  near  relative  of  islandicus  Blatchl., 
differing  chiefly  in  the  form  of  the  male  cerci,  which,  while  of  the 
same  general  structure,  are  narrower  at  base  and  have  the  distal 
half  bent  slightly  upward  and  drawn  out  into  a  slender,  compressed, 
substyliform  tip,  the  whole  appendage  being  once  and  three-quarters 
or  twice  as  long  as  the  width  of  base.  The  prosternal  spine  is  very 
variable,  ranging  from  subcylindrical  with  bluntly  rounded  tip  to  a 
more  usual  conical  form  with  rounded  apex. 

"Seven  males,  seven  females,  Blowing  Rock,  Watauga  Co., 
N.  C.,  July  19.  Two  females,  Linville,  Mitchell  Co.,  N.  C.,  July 
18.  Six  males,  six  females,  l/jverings',  Burke  Co.,  (between  Mor- 
ganton  and  Pineola),  July  13.  Two  females,  Pineola,  Mitchell  Co., 
N.  C.,  July  13  ;  one  male  (?)  same  place,  Aug.  28.  All  at  eleva- 
tions of  3500  to  4000  ft. 

"  The  three  species, — islandicus,  celatus,  and  sylvestris — are  evi- 
dently nearly  related  descendants  of  the  same  parent  form,  modified 
by  isolation.  Intergrades  may  yet  be  discovered.  The  male  from 
Pineola  is  included  with  some  doubt  owing  to  differences  in  structure 
and  season." 

(See  Fig.  2,  p.  46— drawing  of  male  cercus.) 
North  Carolina :  Blowing  Rock,  July  19 ;  Linville,  July  18 ;  Lovering's, 
July  13  ;  Pineola,  July  13,  Aug.  28. 

Transition  zone  in  its  colder  parts.  Sylvan,  inhabiting  cold 
deciduous  forests,  where  it  leaps  actively  about  among  the  under- 
growth of  Vaainium,  Gaultkeria,  Galax,  etc. 

Melanoplus  similis  Morse. 

Melanoplus  similis.    Psyche,  XI,  9  (1904). 

1 '  Very  similar  to  viridipes  and  deceptus.  The  tip  of  the  abdo- 
men is  less  clavate  and  upturned,  the  basal  half  of  the  cerci 
tapers  rapidly  on  the  dorsal  side  to  less  than  half  the  width  of  the 
base,  sides  of  distal  half  parallel,  apex  transversely  excised,  the 
angles  rounded,  the  dorsal  one  slightly  more  prominent ;  the  ventral 
margin  is  nearly  straight,  though  slightly  concave  and  sinuous,  the 
dorsal  margin  strongly  concave  in  the  middle,  convex  at  base. 

1 '  In  color  and  markings  this  species  strongly  resembles  viridipes 
and  deceptus,  but  possesses  distinctive  characters  in  the  markings  of 


48  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E. 

the  abdomen  (as  well  as  in  the  form  of  the  cerci) .  In  this  species 
the  subgenital  plate  is  shining  black,  the  preceding  sternite  greenish 
white  with  a  very  broad  triangular  fuscous  spot  extending  across  its 
posterior  margin  below  the  upturned  subgenital  plate  from  which  it 
is  separated  by  a  lenticular  pale  space  along  the  suture.  In  deceptus 
and  mridipes  the  anterior  margins  of  several  of  the  abdominal  sterna 
are  conspicuously  infuscated  as  well  as  both  margins  of  the  sternite 
preceding  the  subgenital  plate." 

(See  Fig.  6,  p.  46 — drawing  of  male  cercus.) 
North  Carolina :  Murphy,  July  25,  1800  feet. 

Upper  Austral  or  Transition  zone.  Sylvan,  in  dry  upland  for- 
ests of  pine  and  oak  on  high  ground. 

Melanoplos  deceptos  Morse. 

Melanoplus  deceptus.    Psyche,  XI,  9  (1904). 

"  Melanoplus  mridipes  in  part.    Scudder,  Rev.  Melanopli,  p.  255. 

' '  Agreeing  with  mridipes  in  size,  color,  and  markings,  but  dif- 
fering in  the  form  of  the  cerci ;  in  mridipes  these  organs  taper  some- 
what regularly  to  the  apex  ;  in  this  species  more  or  less  of  their 
distal  third  is  distinctly  broadened  dorsally  and  obliquely  excised  at 
the  end,  the  apex  being  acute  and  ventral  ;  the  ventral  margin  may 
be  convex,  straight,  or  slightly  sinuous,  the  dorsal  margin  is  concave 
in  the  mesial  portion,  sometimes  strongly  so.  The  whole  organ 
varies  much  in  breadth  in  different  specimens. 

"  Owing  to  its  strong  resemblance  to  mridipes  this  species  has 
been  confused  with  it  by  various  authors  and  a  specimen  was  included 
with  the  types  of  that  species.  The  original  descriptions  and 
drawings,  however,  accurately  delimit  mridipes  from  this  and  the 
succeeding  species." 

(See  Fig.  9,  p.  46 — drawing  of  male  cercus.) 
North  Carolina  :  Balsam,  Aug.  19,  5700  to  6100  feet,  Jones  Peak. 
Georgia  :  Jasper,  July  26,  2600  feet,  extreme  summit  of  Sharptop  Mountain. 

Transition  zone.  Sylvan;  in  deciduous  forests  at  high 
elevations. 

Melanoplus  tribulus  Morse. 

Melanoplus  tribulus.    Psyche,  XI,  11  (1904). 

"A  short-winged  species  of  medium  size.  Disk  of  pronotum 
somewhat  convex  above,  once  and  a  half  (female)  or  twice  (male) 
as  long  as  wide,  mid-carina  percurrent,  distinct,  lateral  carinse  ob- 
solete, hind  margin  a  little  convex,  emarginate.  Prosternal  spine 
prominent,  conical,  acutely  pointed,  in  female  somewhat  flattened 
antero-posteriorly.  Tegmina  broadly  ovate,  about  three-fourths  as 


NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIID^E.  49 

long  as  pronotum.  Male  abdomen  subclavate,  considerably  upturned 
Subgenital  plate  with  the  sides  much  expanded  basally,  the  ventral 
face  very  short,  convex,  terminating  in  a  very  short,  blunt,  up- 
wardly directed  fuscous  tubercle  distinctly  removed  from  the  inner 
margin.  Supra-anal  plate  shield-shaped,  with  convex  sides,  abruptly 
narrowed  to  terminate  in  an  acute  point  with  straight  sides.  Furcula 
consisting  of  a  pair  of  small,  straight,  flattened,  backwardly  directed, 
rather  distant  processes,  about  as  long  as  the  last  dorsal  segment. 
Cerci  slender,  three  times  as  long  as  basal  width,  tapering  in  basal 
third  to  about  half  the  basal  width,  equal  in  middle  fourth,  expand- 
ing a  little  distally  into  a  laminate,  obliquely  excised  tip,  the  upper 
angle  rounded,  the  lower  acutely  pointed,  the  whole  organ  gently 
incurved  and  the  tip  slightly  decurved. 

"Color  dark  reddish  brown  above,  white  and  flavescent  be- 
neath. Post-ocular  stripe  continued  into  fuscous  of  sides  of  abdo- 
men, sometimes  suffusing  the  metepisternal  pale  fascia.  Hind 
femora  with  fuscous  genicular  lobes  and  indications  of  oblique  fascia. 
Hind  tibiae  fuscescent  glaucous  with  black  spines. 

"length  of  body:  male,  18.5-19;  female,  26;  hind  femora: 
male,  10.5;  female,  12.5;  antenna :  male,  10.5;  female,  8;  tegmina; 
male,  3.5-4.3;  female,  4.5  mm." 

(See  Fig.  7,  p.  46 — drawing  of  male  cercus.) 
Georgia  :  Jasper,  July  26,  2600  feet,  summit  of  Sharptop  Mountain. 

Transition  zone.     Sylvan ;  in  highland  forests. 
Melanoplus  devius  Morse. 

Melanoplus  devius.    Psyche,  XI,  12  (1904). 

"  This  species  is  nearly  related  to  tribulus  here  described,  agree- 
ing with  it  in  size,  form,  and  shape  of  subgenital  plate.  Mid- 
carina  of  pronotum  percurrent.  Prosternal  spine  typically  cylindro- 
conic  and  rather  bluntly  pointed.  Furcula  small  and  very  variable. 
Supra-anal  plate  usually  distinctly  ampliate  basally.  Cerci  nar- 
row from  a  broad  base,  two  and  a  half  times  as  long  as  basal 
breadth,  tapering  gently  in  both  breadtn  and  thickness  in  basal 
half,  the  distal  half  equal  or  a  little  expanded  apically,  laminate, 
transversely  excised  at  apex,  the  upper  angle  more  rounded  than 
the  lower,  the  dorsal  margin  sinuous,  the  ventral  concave.  The 
fuscous  markings  of  the  end  of  the  abdomen  of  the  male  readily  dis- 
tinguish it  from  tribulus;  in  this  species  the  posterior  face  of  the 
apical  tubercle  and  the  sides  of  the  subgenital  plate,  the  sides  and 
anterior  and  posterior  margins  of  the  preceding  sternite,  are  infus- 
cated.  In  the  female  the  sides  of  the  abdomen  are  nearly  free  from 
fuscous  markings.  Hind  tibiae  glaucous  with  black  spines. 


50  NORTH   AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^J. 

"  lyengthofbody  :  male,  17-20  ;  female,  22-26.5  5  hind  femora  : 
male,  10-11.5;  female,  11.5-13;  antenna:  male,  9-10;  female, 
7.5-8.5;  tegmina:  male,  2  X  2.5,  2.5  X  4  ;  female,  2.8  X  3.5, 
3x5  mm." 

(See  Fig.  8,  p.  46 — drawing  of  male  cercus.) 

Virginia  :  Wytheville,  Sept.  4,  5,  3000  to  3500  feet,  near  the  High  Rocks. 
North  Carolina  :  Topton,  Aug.  21,  3000  to  4000  feet. 

Transition  zone.     Dry  mountain  forests. 
Melanoplus  amplectens  Scudd. 

Melanoplus  amplectens.    Scudder,  Rev.  Mel.,  p.  260,  pi.  xvn,  fig.  7. 
Melanoplus  blatchleyi.    Scudder,  Rev.  Mel.,  p.  332,  pi.  xxi,  fig.  10. 

Virginia  :  Wytheville,  Sept.  4,  5. 

North  Carolina  :  Balsam,  July  24,  Aug.  19,  4500  to  6000  feet ;  Cranberry, 
Aug.  28  ;  Linville,  July  18,  Aug.  30  ;  Roan  Mountain  and  Roan  Valley, 
Aug.  31,  Sept.  i  ;  Topton,  Aug.  21,  3000  to  4000  feet. 

Georgia  :  Jasper,  July  26,  2600  feet,  Sharptop  Mountain. 

Transition  zone  of  Central  and  Appalachian  regions.  This  is 
a  characteristic  and  dominant  species  among  the  mountains  of 
western  North  Carolina,  inhabiting  thickets  of  shrubbery,  and 
herbage  in  and  near  deciduous  woodlands  at  high  elevations  and 
sometimes  extending  its  habitat  into  the  adjoining  fields.  The 
cerci  and  furcula  of  the  male  are  very  variable  in  size  and  propor- 
tions, but  there  seems  no  doubt  that  the  two  names  have  been 
applied  to  the  same  species,  which  has  a  wide  range  in  the  Central 
States  and  is  exceedingly  plentiful  in  places  as  well  as  widely  dis- 
tributed in  the  southern  Appalachians.  Adults  of  this  species 
begin  to  appear  in  small  numbers  about  the  middle  of  July,  but  the 
great  majority  do  not  reach  maturity  until  August  and  young  are 
still  plentiful  in  September  at  high  elevations. 

(See  PI.  i,  Fig.  i ;  PL  7,  Figs,  i  and  2.) 

Melanoplus  attenuates  Scudd. 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15,  (juv.  5). 

I/)wer  Austral  zone.  A  single  male  and  three  nymphs  were 
secured  in  tangled  growth  on  swampy  ground. 

Melanoplus  australis  Morse. 

Melanoplus  australis.    Psyche,  xi,  13  (1904). 

"  Related  to  attenuatus.  Tegmina  lanceolate  with  rounded 
tip, — in  attenuatus  elliptical,  and  almost  truncate  at  apex.  Furcula 
processes  well-developed,  broad  at  base,  tapering  (chiefly  on  inner 
side)  to  digitate  tips,  one-third  as  long  as  supra-anal  plate, — in 
attenuatus  one-fourth  or  less.  Supra-anal  plate  resembling  that  of 


NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIIDjE.  51 

attenuatus,  showing  indications  of  the  marginal  dentate  plication  of 
that  species.  Cerci  slender,  very  nearly  symmetrical,  three  times 
as  long  as  broad,  the  middle  third  narrowed  to  one-half  or  less  of 
the  width  of  the  base,  spatulate,  with  slightly  emarginate  symmetri- 
cal apex,  the  tip  a  little  incurved,  thin,  and  longitudinally  inrolled, 
i.  <?.,  from  side  to  side  convex  externally,  concave  internally,  sub- 
genital  plate  similar  to  that  of  attenuatus. 

"  Color  light  yellowish  green,  without  fuscous  markings  on  sides 
of  abdomen.  Hind  tibiae  glaucous.  Post-ocular  fuscous  stripe 
obsolete  on  metazone,  interrupted  on  prozone  by  two  narrow  oblique 
yellowish  green  fasciae. 

"Length  of  body:  male,  17;  hind/femora:  male,  11.5;  antenna: 
male,  12;  tegmina  :  male,  2X3  mm." 
Georgia:  Savannah,  Aug.  14. 

lyower  Austral  zone.  A  near  relative  of  attenuatus  and  occur- 
ring in  the  same  kind  of  habitat :  tangled  growth  of  grass,  sedge, 
weeds,  etc. ,  on  swampy  ground. 

Melanoplus  rotundipennis  Scudd. 
Florida  :  Live  Oak,  Aug.  10. 

Gulf  strip  of  Lower  Austral  zone.  Quite  numerous  at  one  spot 
in  the  piney  woods,  varying  much  in  color  according  to  background, 
from  mottled  grayish  on  sand  to  dark  red-brown  among  leaves  and 
other  plant  debris. 


FIG.  ii.— Melanoplus  decoratus.    Lateral  view  of  end  of  abdomen  of  male. 
FIG.  12. — Melanoplus  strumosus.   Lateral  view  of  end  of  abdomen  of  male. 
FIG.  13. — Melanoplus  strumosus.    Dorsal  view  of  end  of  abdomen  of  male. 
(Magnified  6  diameters.) 

Melanoplus  decoratus  Morse. 

Melanoplus  decoratus.    Psyche,  xi,  12  (1904). 

"  Related  to  decorus  (Scudder,  Rev.  Mel.,  p.  257,  pi.  17,  fig.  5). 
Vertex  rather  strongly  protuberant,  especially  in  female.  Pronotum 
with  mid-carina  strong  on  metazone,  weak  or  indistinct  on  prozone. 


52  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIIDjE. 

Tegmina  asymmetrically  obovate,  the  costal  margin  more  convex. 
Supra-anal  plate  nearly  as  broad  as  long,  the  sides  convex  or  sinu- 
ate, apex  rounded  or  acute,  the  supernumerary  longitudinal  ridges 
feebly  developed  or  indistinct.  Furcula  processes  broad  at  base, 
rather  strongly  divergent,  tapering,  the  sides  more  or  less  sinuate, 
once  and  a  half  or  twice  as  long  as  the  last  dorsal  segment.  Cerci 
broader  than  in  decorus,  especially  at  tip,  the  apex  transversely  ex- 
cised, the  ventral  apical  angle  produced,  the  dorsal  well  rounded, 
the  extreme  tip  slightly  recurved.  Subgenital  plate  strongly  con- 
stricted at  base,  (more  than  in  decorus),  the  sides  less  ampliate 
basally,  the  apical  tubercle  much  enlarged,  produced,  and  curved 
upward,  the  ventral  length  of  the  plate  almost  or  quite  equal  to  its 
basal  depth,  the  whole  structure  appearing  more  like  a  malforma- 
tion than  otherwise. 

"  Color  dark  reddish  brown,  yellow  beneath,  sides  of  pronotum 
below  post-ocular  stripe  white,  the  stripe  percurrent,  suffusing  pale 
metepisternal  fascia,  continued  nearly  or  quite  to  end  of  abdomen, 
sometimes  rather  faintly  in  female,  but  more  pronounced  and  con- 
stant than  in  the  females  of  the  other  species  here  described.  The 
body  is  stouter  than  in  decorus,  the  hind  femora  shorter  and  stouter, 
and  usually  bifasciate. 

"  Length  of  body :  Male,  15-18;  female,  21.5-25  ;  hind  femora: 
male,  9.5-11;  female,  10.7-12;  antenna:  male,  8.5-9.5;  female, 
8-9  ;  tegmina:  male,  2X3,  2.5  X  4;  female,  2.8  X  4,  4  X  5  mm." 

(See  Fig.  n,  p.  51.) 

Virginia  :  Wytheville,  Sept.  4,  5,  3000  to  3500  feet,  near  the  High  Rocks. 
North  Carolina  :   Murphy,  July  25,  1800  feet ;  Topton,  Aug.  21,  3000  to 

4000  feet. 
Georgia  :  Blue  Ridge,  July  25,  1700  feet. 

(Austral  ?)  Transition  zone.  Dry  mountain  forests,  among 
low  shrubs. 

Melanoplws  strumostts  Morse. 

Melanoplus  sirumosus.    Psyche,  xi,  n  (1904). 

"  A  small  species  with  very  small  ovate  tegmina,  attingent  in 
male,  a  little  separated  in  female.  Disk  of  pronotum  twice  (male) 
or  once  and  a  half  (female)  as  long  as  wide,  midcarina  percurrent, 
lateral  carinse  barely  perceptible  mesially.  Prosternal  spine  pro- 
minent, flattened  cylindric,  slightly  curved  backward,  apex  trans- 
versely excised,  the  angles  rounded.  Mesosternal  interspace  quad- 
rate in  female,  slightly  longitudinal  in  male.  Metasternal  interspace 
longitudinal,  twice  as  long  as  wide  (female),  narrower  in  male. 


NORTH    AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^E.  53 

Tegmina  obovate,  two-thirds  as  long  as-  pronotum.  Hind  femora 
stout,  very  obliquely  bif asciate  with  fuscous.  Hind  tibiae  glaucous, 
flavescent  at  base  and  tip,  with  black-tipped  spines. 

"  Male  abdomen  subclavate,  the  subgenital  plate  and  preceding 
segment  tumescent,  broader  than  deep,  and  greatly  elongated,  the 
former  elongate  scoop-shaped,  bluntly  rounded  at  apex,  its  sides  a 
little  convex,  especially  at  base.  Supra-anal  plate  broader  than 
long,  somewhat  trilobate  at  end  by  reason  of  deep,  subapical  lateral 
emarginations,  the  apex  acutely  pointed  with  straight  sides,  the 
basal  three- fourths  of  each  side  smoothly  convex,  curving  abruptly 
into  the  subapical  emarginations.  Its  upper  surface  bears  strongly 
raised  edges  and  a  prominent  transverse  ridge  midway  of  its  length, 
crossing  two-thirds  of  its  width.  To  this  ridge  extend,  lying  upon 
longitudinal  ridges,  the  processes  of  the  furcula;  these  are  very 
broad  at  base,  tapering  equally  to  digitate,  apically  sinuate,  tips 
which  rest  upon  the  ends  of  the  transverse  ridge,  and  enclose  be- 
tween them  the  shallow  median  sulcus,  wide  apically,  narrow 
anteriorly.  The  base  of  the  furcula  and  median  portion  of  the  seg- 
ment bearing  it  are  distinctly  depressed  ;  the  median  portion  of  the 
preceding  segment  is  depressed  to  fit  into  this  hollow,  slightly 
elongated,  widely  and  shallowly  sulcate  longitudinally,  the  sulcus 
transversely  rugulose,  with  apical  margin  carinate  opposite  base  of 
furcula.  Cerci  short  and  slender,  about  two-thirds  as  long  as  supra- 
anal  plate,  nearly  three  times  as  long  as  basal  width,  tapering  evenly 
in  basal  half  to  one-fourth  the  basal  width,  distally  bent  gently  up- 
ward and  inward,  the  tip  slightly  expanded  to  about  one-third  the 
basal  width,  obliquely  excised,  the  upper  angle  rounded,  the  ventral 
acute,  the  ventral  margin  convex  or  sinuous,  the  dorsal  margin 
concave. 

"  General  color  deep  reddish  brown  above,  whitish  or  flavescent 
beneath.  Post-ocular  fuscous  stripe  indistinct  in  female,  deep  black 
in  male,  percurrent,  extending  to  abdomen,  even  suffusing  the 
metepisternal  pale  fascia. 

"Length  of  body  :  male,   15;  female,  17.5-22;  hind  femora: 
male,  10;  female,  11.5-13;  antenna:  male,  6;  female,  7;  tegmina: 
male,  2X2.7;  female,  2.5X3.5,  2. 7X4  mm." 
(See  Figs.  12,  13,  p.  51.) 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 

Florida  :  De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5. 

Ivower  Austral  zone.  A  very  few  specimens  of  this  peculiar 
species  were  secured  among  shrubbery  in  open  pine  woods.  (See 
PI.  6,  Fig.  i,  type  locality.) 


54  NORTH    AMERICAN    ACRIDIIDJE. 

Melanoplos  divetgens  Morse. 

Melanoplus  diver  gens.    Psyche,  xi,  8,  (1904). 

"A  short-winged  species  of  the  same  size  and  appearance  as 
islandicus  and  its  two  relatives  here  described  but  belonging  in  a 
different  series  and  easily  distinguished  by  the  sub-bifurcate  cerci. 
Vertex  blunt.  Pronotum  broad  with  flattened  disk,  subangulate  at 
junction  with  lateral  lobes,  and  moderately  convex  hinder  margin, 
the  mid-carina  distinct  on  the  metazone,  absent  from  prozone. 
Prosternal  spine  short  and  variable,  usually  conical  with  acutely 
pointed  tip  but  sometimes  much  broadened  laterally  with  wide, 
bluntly  rounded  apex.  Mesosternal  interspace  slightly  transverse 
in  the  female,  narrower  than  the  lateral  lobes,  quadrate  or  a  little 
transverse  in  the  male.  Metasternal  interspace  slightly  transverse 
in  the  female,  longitudinal  in  the  male.  Tegmina  shorter  than  the 
pronotum,  ovate,  or  ovate-lanceolate,  with  rounded  apex,  usually 
covering  second  abdominal  segment  but  sometimes  half  this  length, 
attingent  in  the  male,  separated  in  the  female.  The  subgenital 
plate  is  truncate  or  even  slightly  emarginate  at  apex,  the  sides 
viewed  from  above  nearly  straight.  The  supra-anal  plate  is  longer 
than  wide,  triangular,  pointed  at  apex,  the  sides  convex.  Furcula 
moderately  broad,  about  equalling  the  last  segment  in  length.  The 
cerci  are  quite  distinctive,  recalling  those  of  minor  in  outline,  being 
roughly  boot-shaped,  the  base  very  broad,  a  little  longer  than  wide, 
its  sides  parallel  or  convergent,  the  distal  two-fifths  bent  abruptly 
upward  at  an  angle  of  35°  or  40°,  narrowed  to  about  one-half  the 
width  of  the  base  and  tapering  to  a  broad,  evenly  rounded  blunt 
apex.  At  the  union  of  the  distal  portion  with  the  base  the  dorsal 
margin  is  deeply  concave,  the  ventral  margin  strongly  angulate, 
beyond  the  angle  straight  or  a  little  concave,  forming  a  sub-bifurcate 
organ  as  long  as  the  supra-anal  plate.  The  whole  appendage 
is  thick,  strongly  convex  externally,  especially  on  the  tip,  which  is 
curved  gently  inward. 

' '  General  color  dark  reddish  brown  above,  yellowish  beneath, 
the  hind  tibiae  red.  Postocular  fuscous  stripes  on  head  and  pro- 
zone  and  pronounced  fuscous  markings  on  sides  of  abdomen  and 
hind  femora,  The  female  is  sometimes  yellowish  brown  above. 

"I/ength  of  body:  male,  9-10;  female,  11-20;  hind  femora: 
male,  8.5-9.5;  female,  9.5-11;  antenna:  male,  6-6.5;  female, 
6-7  ;  tegmina,  male,  2-3  ;  female,  2-4  mm." 

(See  Fig.  5,  p.  46 — drawing  of  male  cercus.) 
North  Carolina  :  Balsam,  July  24,  Aug.  19,  5000  to  6000  feet. 


NORTH   AMERICAN   ACRIDIIDjE.  55 

Transition  zone.  Sylvan  in  habit  ;  found  in  Vaccinium 
thickets  and  other  low  shrubbery  in  deciduous  forests  and  clearings. 

Paroxya  atlantica  Scudd. 

South  Carolina  :  Denmark,  Aug.  15. 

Georgia:  Savannah,  Aug.  14;  Tybee  Island,  Aug.  12, 13;  Waycross,  Aug.  n. 

Florida  :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9 ;  Fort  Barrancas,  Aug.  3  ;  Warrington,  Aug.  4. 
lyower  Austral  zone.  A  locally  common  species  found  in  the 
coast  region  in  grassy  swamps  and  marshes,  either  salt  or  fresh. 

Pat  oxya  f  loridiana  Thorn. 

Virginia :  Appomattox,  Sept.  6 ;  Norfolk,  Sept.  8 ;  Virginia  Beach, 
Sept.  7. 

North  Carolina  :  Raleigh,  July  9 ;  Tunis,  July  5. 

Georgia :  Savannah,  Aug.  14 ;  Stone  Mountain,  July  28 ;  Tybee  Island, 
Aug.  12, 13. 

Florida  :  Carrabelle,  Aug.  9 ;   Marianna,  Aug.  6 ;  Warrington,  Aug.  4. 

Austral  zones,  coastwise  to  eastern  Massachusetts.  A  widely 
distributed  but  local  species  occurring  in  grassy  swamps  and  along 
the  borders  of  streams  and  tidal  inlets.  (See  PI.  4,  Fig.  2;  PI.  6, 
Fig.  2.) 

Aptenopedes  sphenarioides  Scudd. 

Georgia :  Waycross,  Aug.  n,  ( juv.  3,  5). 

Florida  :  (Carrabelle,  Aug.  9,  juv.  4) ;  (De  Funiak  Springs,  Aug.  5,  juv.  3) ; 
Live  Oak,  Aug.  10,  (juv.  5)  ;  Tallahassee,  Aug.  8,  (juv.  4,  5). 

Lower  Austral  zone.  A  not  uncommon  species  locally  in 
grassy  spots  among  the  piney  woods,  either  in  palmetto  scrub,  low 
bushes,  or  sedge  and  pipe  wort  barrens.  (See  PI.  5,  Fig.  2.) 


PIG.  i — Habitat  of   Trimerotropis  saxatilis  on  southern  slope  of  Stone  Mountain,  Georgia. 


[abitat  of  Trimerotropis  saxatilis  on  bare  rock  surface  of 
Sand  Mountain  plateau,  near  Trenton,  Georgia. 


FIG.  i — Habitat  of  Trimerotropis  cilrina  and   Trimet  olropis 
maritima  on  sea-beach  at  Cape  Henry,  Virginia. 


FIG.  2— Habitat  of  Trimerotropis  cilrina  on  sandy  ri' 
Piedmont  region,  Morganton,  North  Carolit 


PlG.  i — The  Florida  strand.      Habitat  of  Scirtetica  picta,  Trimerolropis  cttrina, 
and  Psinidia  fenestralis  on  the  Gulf  coast,  Carrabelle,  Florida. 


FIG.  2— The  Florida  strand.     Habitat  of  Orphulella  olivacea,  Paroxya  atlantica,  etc.,  it 
Juncus  fringes  of  inlets  of  the  Gulf  coast,  near  Fort  Barrancas,  Florida. 


FIG.  i— The'Florida  strand.    Habitat  of  He. 


5,  Florida. 


FIG.  2— Pine  barrens.    Habitat  of  Gymnoscirtetes  pusillus,  Eotettix, 
Paxiila,  etc.,  among  pipewort,  Waycross,  Georgia. 


FIG.  i — Type  locality  of  Melanoplus  slrumosus  amid  shrubby  growth  of 
upland  piney  woods,  DeFuniak  Springs,  Florida. 


FIG.  2— Type  locality  of  Melanoplus  symmetricus  in  grassy  swamp  at  Carrabelle, 
Florida.    Habitat  of  Paroxya  floridiana  and  Schistocerca  alutacea. 


FIG.  i — Normal  sylvan  habitat  of  Melanoplus  ampleclens.    Eupatorium  thicket  in 
deciduous  woods  on  south  slope  of  Roan  Mountain,  North  Carolina. 


FIG.  2— Extended  habitat  of  Melanofilus.  ampleclens  in  grass  of 
clearing  at  Roan  Valley,  North  Carolina. 


PLATE    8 


FIG."  i  —  Summit  "  balds  "  east  of 


it  of  Roan  Mountain,  North  Carolina. 


L%^tV:>^.;?.   •*    C  \  ,  -     x^-.-JTf,    :v  •  v- ;V*K*vi 


FIG.  2— Protective  coloration  of    Ttimerotropis  citrina.    Male  and  female  locusts 

on  sandy  soil  marked  with  raindrop  impressions.    Tarboro, 

North  Carolina.     (The  rule  to  show  scale.) 


Library 

i.xperimert  Station 
varsity  of  California 


DATE  DUE 


A    000  643  696 
|QL508 

|A2M8         Morse,  Albert  Pitts 


Kesearches  on  North 
American  Acridlidae. 


A2M8         Morse,  Albert  Pitts 


Researches  on  North 
American  Acridiidae. 


BIO-AGRICULTURAL  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
RIVERSIDE,  CALIFORNIA  92502 


II 


